Two police complaints have been lodged against the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) even as the death toll in the aftermath of the fire at the IOC depot near Jaipur climbed to 11 on Monday after another person succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, the Union Petroleum Ministry constituted inquiry committee began its probe into the fire that began on Thursday evening, while government officials stated that the fire had died down in seven of the depot’s 11 containers, but was still strong in two containers. Officials stated that it may be another day before all the fuel in the depot burns out making it accessible to firemen.

  Rajasthan Principal Secretary, Home, Pradeep Sen on Monday confirmed that two FIRs had been registered. “The owners of Genus Overseas Limited and a retired IAS officer, B L Meherda, who owns an industrial unit near the depot, have registered FIRs against IOC,” Sen said. He added that the owners of Genus have charged IOC under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC stating that an employee’s body was found dead on the IOC premises, while Meherda charged IOC under Section 435 (negligence). The Rajasthan High Court also issued notices to the Rajasthan government over the incident on Sunday which will be taken up for hearing again on Tuesday.

  On Sunday morning the flames from the burning IOC depot spread to the neighbouring Genus Overseas Limited unit setting its roof ablaze. However, firefighters, who had anticipated the flare-up were on hand and managed to douse the fire in a few hours. Meanwhile, explosions were also heard on Monday morning at the depot, renewing suspicions that the fuel was far from expended with senior experts at the spot stating that the fire may easily go on for another 24 hours.

... contd.