Bhubaneswar: The CNG unit of an Indian Oil-run fuel station located near the Raj Bhawan (Governor’s House) here in the State capital city burst into furious flames all of a sudden today pre-noon hours following which a state of panic writ large among both the locals and passersby while eight persons have been critically injured.
Also, several vehicles and nearby shops besides the fuel station got adversely affected and damaged. The blast has not only injured the employees of the fuel station, but also customers and commuters in the periphery, sources said.
A number of fire tenders, 108 ambulances and the ODRAF teams were immediately pressed into action to douse the inferno and take timely stock of the situation.
Commissionerate Police immediately sealed the Raj Bhawan road and the peripheral areas in a radius of more than a kilometer for the safety of all.
Twin City Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi and Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Dash rushed to the spot with adequate police force to supervise the rescue operations as well as meet the emergent situation.
The Police Commissioner in his media reactions informed on the spot that the fuel station comprises three tanks – one of petrol, another of diesel and the third one of CNG. While the CNG tank burst, the rest two tanks were fortunately spared. “Had it been, the situation would have been catastrophic,” said the Police Commissioner.
Capital Hospital Director informed media that total eight persons have been injured and were admitted there while two critical cases have been shifted to Cuttack SCB Medical College & Hospital.
After the concerted efforts launched by both the police and fire personnel, Twin City Police Commissioner informed media that the situation has come under control.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced free medical treatment for the persons injured in the incident and has wished their speedy recovery.
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has tweeted later in the day has ordered for a high level probe in to the incident. He has directed the secretary of his ministry to do the needful and submit a report soon.
ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ରାଜଭବନ ନିକଟସ୍ଥ ପେଟ୍ରୋଲ ପମ୍ପରେ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡ ଖବର ଜାଣିବା ପରେ ଘଟଣାର ତଦନ୍ତ କରିବାକୁ ପେଟ୍ରୋଲିୟମ ଓ ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ଗ୍ୟାସ ବିଭାଗର ସଚିବଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ଦେଲି ।
ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ବରିଷ୍ଠ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଓ ଇଣ୍ଡିଆନ୍ ଅଏଲର ଅଧିକାରୀ ମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଆଲୋଚନା କରି ତୁରନ୍ତ ଘଟଣାର ତଦନ୍ତ ରିପୋର୍ଟ ଦେବାକୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ଦେଇଛି।
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 7, 2020