Two dead, one injured in benzene tank explosion at IOCL refinery in Vadodara

Vadodara: The death toll from a fire at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat, has risen to two, with one more person injured and undergoing treatment, as confirmed by DCP Abhay Soni. He assured that the situation is now under control.

The fire began on Monday afternoon after an explosion in a benzene storage tank at the refinery, which then spread to two adjacent tanks. The blaze was eventually brought under control by Tuesday morning after extensive firefighting efforts.

Soni explained, “The explosion occurred around 3 pm yesterday in a benzene storage tank, leading to the fire. The fire was extinguished by 2 am today. The affected area is now under control, and while the related production unit has been shut down, other units continue to operate. Unfortunately, two people died, and one was injured in the incident.”

He reassured the public, stating, “There is no need for concern, as all safety protocols were followed. Operations at the second production unit are proceeding as usual, with around 6,000 to 7,000 workers on-site, and all industrial safety measures have been maintained.”

The victims, Dhimant Makwana and Shailesh Makwana, died in the fire, while an IOCL official sustained injuries and is currently being treated at a private hospital.

Indian Oil Corporation issued a statement expressing gratitude to local authorities and nearby industries for their support during the rescue operations. “We confirm that the fire in the benzene storage tank at the Gujarat Refinery was completely extinguished by 2 am today by our fire teams and mutual aid partners. Refinery operations are back to normal, ensuring continuous production. We appreciate the cooperation and support from local authorities and surrounding industries throughout the rescue efforts.”

The IOC also announced the formation of a high-level committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident, with further updates to be provided. DeshGujarat