Tue Nov 12 04:59:50 UTC 2024: ## Two Killed, One Injured in Vadodara Refinery Fire
**Vadodara, Gujarat:** A fire at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat, has claimed two lives and injured one person. The fire, which began on Monday afternoon with an explosion in a benzene storage tank, quickly spread to two adjacent tanks.
The fire was finally brought under control after several hours of firefighting efforts involving multiple fire tenders from nearby cities and towns. While the fire was contained, two workers, Dhimant Makwana and Shailesh Makwana, succumbed to their injuries. Another IOCL official sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital, his condition reported to be stable.
The incident occurred around 3:30 PM on Monday when a blast in the 1000 KL capacity benzene storage tank triggered the fire. Initial reports suggest that the blaze was contained by the refinery’s water sprinkler system, but it quickly spread to nearby tanks.
The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire is currently under investigation. The incident led to the closure of the IOCL complex, with fluid circulation halted as a precautionary measure. Other storage tanks were cooled to prevent the fire from spreading further.
All employees working during the shift were evacuated from the refinery, and subsequent shifts were canceled as a safety measure. Police, district administration officials, and senior IOCL executives arrived at the site following the incident.
First Piper 