FIR Filed against IOC in Jaipur Fire, Charged of Criminal Negligence
The executive of a private company, that suffered damages due to fire, has filed a complaint against the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), charging it with criminal negligence.
The fire, which is still raging on sixth consecutive day claimed 11 lives and injured more than 150 people.
The blaze broke out in IOC depot in Sitapura industrial area about 20 km from the Jaipur city centre at 7.15 pm October 29.
A police official said that an FIR was lodged on Monday by Pratipal Singh, an employee of Genus Power Infrastructure Limited, a factory that is located near the IOC depot.
“We have lodged a case under Section 304 A, which relates to causing death by negligence, and other appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code,” he said.
According to reports, the management at Genus said that the factory has suffered massive damages because of the fire.
“There were three casualties in our factory and 15 others were injured. It is difficult for us to assess the damage to the industrial unit as of now. We would only be able to do it once the fire is controlled in the depot,” an official of the factory said.
In the meantime, the district administration took a decision to keep educational institutes in Sitapura shut for the next eight days. The decision was taken as some of the buildings at the institutes were damaged.
The fire is still flaring in four of the eleven tanks situated in the depot, said the district administration. These tanks are filled with petrol and diesel. In the remaining seven tanks the fire has almost come to an end and black smoke is coming out, which has formed dark clouds in a two to three km radius around the premises.
It may be mentioned that a team of union petroleum ministry has paid a visit to the site and initiated an investigation into the incident. The team has to submit its report within 60 days.
IOC officials said that it will take over a year to rebuild the depot which has been completely damaged.
People living in close proximity of the depot have been complaining of breathing difficulties and itching in the eyes.
“Since Friday night I have been having problems in breathing. I complained to my doctor and he told me it is because of the smoke in the air,” Adesh Kumar, a resident of a nearby colony, said.
