Plant blaze kills 3 CISF jawans

Raigad (Maharashtra): At least four persons, including three CISF jawans, were killed in a massive fire that broke out in a storm water drainage network at the ONGC’s oil and gas processing plant in Uran, Navi Mumbai, officials said here on Tuesday. An official of Navi Mumbai Police Control told IANS that besides the four fatalities, some more were feared injured in the tragedy. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans of the Fire Wing (ONGC Unit), who were killed in the line of duty, are E. Nayaka, M.K. Paswan and S.P. Kushwaha. Earlier, clouds of dark smoke were seen billowing out of the conflagration on the ONGC premises after the fire erupted at around 7 a.m. “The fire is being contained. No impact on oil processing and gas diverted to Hazira plants. The situation is being assessed,” an ONGC spokesperson told IANS. Besides the ONGC’s own fire service and crisis management teams, fire-fighters from Uran, JNPT, Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas rushed to battle the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The blaze was brought under control after nearly three hours and cooling operations are underway at the site. In a fallout of the fire, gas supplies of both PNG and CNG were severely hit in Mumbai, according to Mahanagar Gas Ltd. (MGL). (IANS)