The fire started at around 2 am at the IOC’s facility at Taloja industrial area in Navi Mumbai, where large depots of imported oil have been created due to its proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
The blaze started in containers holding lubricant oil and engulfed the entire storage area before it was brought under control at around 10 am. The fire was completely extinguished by evening, sources added. At least two dozens of fire tenders and over 200 personnel struggled to bring the inferno under control and spreading it to adjacent diesel storage area, the Navi Mumbai fire brigade at Kalamboli said.
The IOC plant blends and fills lubricants in small cans and drums, besides filling speciality lubes. The staff works in the depot only on one single shift from 8 am to 5 pm, and only security staff and watchmen were present at the site when the mishap occurred.
The immediate cause of the fire was attributed to short circuit in the storage area, where 40,000 litres of lubricant oil was stored. All the oil storage was consumed by the fire.
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