The fire that broke out at an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot near Jaipur Thursday evening raged unhindered on Friday while firefighters looked helpless. As the death toll rose to five, police said six IOC employees, who were at the site when the fire began, have been listed as missing.

Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora announced compensation for the dead and injured and formation of a high-level panel to probe the fire.

The fire at the IOC depot in Sitapura industrial estate, 15 km from Jaipur city, started around 6.30 pm Thursday. IOC personnel believe that it was caused by a leakage in one of the 11 containers at the depot. An official said a huge blast followed the leakage after which fire spread to the remaining containers. IOC officials feel around 90 lakh litres of petrol, diesel and kerosene were stored in the depot.

Valves to the pipeline supplying fuel to the depot were turned off while fire brigade personnel used foam and water spray on LPG containers. Jaipur Chief Fire Officer Ishwar Jat said their priority was to contain the blaze. “We had to prevent the fire from reaching the LPG container and we were successful,” Jat said.

Jaipur Divisional Commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta said around five lakh people had been evacuated. “The situation was dangerous. All families and employees in industrial units living in and around the spot were evacuated along with those at business establishments, shops and colleges and hostels,” Gupta said.

While two persons died of burn injuries, three succumbed to trauma, internal bleeding and head injuries. Rajasthan Principal Secretary (health) G S Sandhu said though the fire was sill raging, it caused few burn injuries. “Our data shows only around four burn-related injuries. More than the fire it was the blast that caused the maximum damage,” he added.

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