Death Toll in IOCL Refinery Fire Near Vadodara Rises to Two Following Extended Blaze

A fire at the Indian Oil Corp (IOCL) refinery near Vadodara led to the death of a canteen worker on Tuesday, raising the toll to two. The blaze, which started with a blast in a benzene storage tank on Monday afternoon, was extinguished after nearly 12 hours of efforts, according to police and company officials. Another injured individual is currently receiving medical treatment.

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The fire began around 3:30 pm on Monday in the Koyali area, spreading to two nearby tanks. Jawahar Nagar police station inspector A B Mori confirmed that contractual worker Dhimant Makwana died on Monday, while canteen worker Shailesh Makwana succumbed later. An IOCL official also sustained injuries and is being treated at a private hospital.

Compensation and Support for Victims' Families

Dharmendrasinh Vaghela, BJP MLA of Waghodia, stated that IOCL management has agreed to provide Rs 25 lakh compensation to each deceased's family. Additionally, jobs will be offered to their wives based on educational qualifications, and children's education will be funded. "I had a meeting with IOCL officers," Vaghela said. "The refinery has agreed to pay compensation and support families." IOCL has not yet released an official statement regarding this agreement.

The central PSU announced that the fire was fully extinguished by 2 am on Tuesday with help from firefighting teams and mutual aid partners. Refinery operations have resumed normally, ensuring uninterrupted production. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident's cause, and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Efforts to Control the Blaze

Assistant Commissioner of Police D J Chavda reported late Monday night that the fire had spread to adjacent storage tanks. Visuals showed thick smoke visible from several kilometres away. Several workers were evacuated following the incident. Fluid circulation in the complex was halted as per standard procedures, and other tanks were cooled for safety.

Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar stated that employees present during the fire were evacuated promptly. Those arriving for subsequent shifts were sent back for safety reasons. The blaze was controlled after extensive efforts involving multiple fire tenders from nearby cities and towns.

The PSU mentioned that one victim died from injuries sustained at the site, while another passed away in hospital after falling unconscious. The exact cause of death will be determined after post-mortem examinations. The rest of the personnel, plant, and machinery are safe, and the area is being secured for safety.