Fire at ONGC plant contained, 4 killed

Four people died, over five were left injured after a major fire broke out in the storm water drainage in the Uran plant of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONCG), on early Tuesday morning, official said. While the fire has been brought under control, cooling operations are underway.

Gas has been diverted to a plant at the Hazira plant in Gujarat, an ONGC spokesperson said.

Uran falls under Raigad district of Maharashtra and is around 50 kilometres from Mumbai.


Among those dead, three are from the fire wing of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which provides security cover to the plant.

“Fire broke out in storm water drainage in Uran plant early morning successfully doused within two hours by fire fighting team. ONGC’s robust crisis mitigation preparedness helped put off this major fire in a very short time,” ONCG said in its statement. “No impact on Oil processing.Gas diverted to Hazira Plant,” the statement added.

According to the Navi Mumbai Police, the fire broke out at 7.10 am, firefighters from the CISF fire wing rushed in as soon as a distress call was made. The fire was followed by an explosion in the pipeline which is suspected as that reason behind the fatalities.

Those injured are being treated at a local hospital.

“A CISF unit has been deployed at ONCG plant for security purposes. Around 7am, a call was received by our fire unit of a minor fire in the storm line, a team was pressed and when they reached the spot, there was also an explosion in the pipeline, four CISF men sustained injuries, they were rushed to a hospital. Three of whom have martyred in the line of duty,” CISF spokesperson spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh told ET

The cause of the fire is still being ascertained.