HPCL refinery fire: Chandrababu Naidu demands high-level probe

VISAKHAPATNAM: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded a high-level probe into the fire at state-run Hindustan Petroleum ( HPCL) refinery complex here in which eight persons were killed.

"A high-level expert committee should probe into the mishap," Naidu said after visiting the site today.

He also visited various hospitals in the city where 39 persons injured in the accident, which took place yesterday, are admitted.

"The HPCL authorities should be held responsible for the mishap for failing to put in place effective management system. It seems the management has not learnt any lessons from the past," Naidu alleged.

He alleged the number of industries-related accidents in the port city has gone up in the last two years.

Relatives of the victims whom Naidu met complained of lack of helpline to get details of the injured and deceased.

The incident happened last evening when a massive blaze swept across the sprawling complex when workers hired by private companies were at work.

The former chief minister demanded that government should give compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of each deceased and Rs 10 lakh to each of the injured.

Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily who visited the site this evening said that eight persons, including seven workers of private companies and an HPCL employee, were killed in the mishap and 39 received burn injuries.

Moily has announced that HPCL would pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore to family members of the deceased PSU employee Ch Murali and the contract companies concerned will pay compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family members of each deceased worker.