A gas-pipeline explosion at Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) Road led to a major fire at Wadala in central eastern Mumbai here on Saturday evening. Even though no casualties were reported in the accident, it slowed down the traffic on routes close to its site off the Eastern Freeway.
The pipeline belongs to MbPT and is used to transport liquid fuel by all companies which had started leaking a few hours before the mishap. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Port Zone) Kiran Kumar Chavan told The Hindu that on Saturday, the pipeline in Sewri was used by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for transportation of its fuel and it was during the process the leakage was reported.
“It was since morning that the leakage was spotted and repair works were on. During the process, it caught fire and because of inflammable material it soon spread further. However, those indulged in repair works managed to save themselves,” said Mr. Chavan. On the cause of the fire, he said it had not been ascertained till late Saturday evening.
It was around 6-30 p.m. that the fire started and the fire department was alerted soon after. According to the Mumbai Fire Services, because the leakage had occurred in the morning and there was considerable oil spill, three fire tenders were stationed there to contain any fire which broke out and this eventually turned out to be the case.
Five more fire tenders, taking the total number to eight, were pressed into service and six water tankers were sent at the spot after the fire was reported. Firefighting was on till 9-30 p.m.
When contacted, a HPCL spokesperson, however, disputed the police claims and said that the transported fuel belonged to a private lubricants company whose office is close to the pipeline.
