At least 20 people were injured in a major fire early Tuesday at a Haldia Petrochemicals plant in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. They were rescued and quickly taken to a local hospital.
Confirming the fire, district police officials said at least five people were seriously injured and had been taken to various hospitals in Kolkata. Two of the plant’s security guards were among those hurt, they said.
The fire broke out suddenly in a naphtha pipeline at the Haldia Petrochemical plant early Tuesday and quickly spread into a major blaze.
Local residents said they first noticed the fire at around 2:45 a.m. and informed the fire service and police shortly afterward. Some of the locals joined the rescue effort before the rescue workers arrived, they said.
The source or cause of the fire is not yet clear. Some residents said they had smelled a strong odour on Monday night and suspected a leak in the plant’s naphtha pipeline, and claimed the devastating fire broke out after rain and lightning around dawn on Tuesday.
In a statement, Haldia Petrochemicals said the incident had occurred near the plant at a spot from where, it believed, naphtha had been stolen, and added that it would cooperate with the investigation.
About 12 fire engines reached the scene to bring the blaze under control, which police sources said had since been achieved.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report