Rs. 40 lakhs loss in pipeline fire

PATNA, APRIL 14. Petro products worth Rs 40 lakhs have been destroyed in the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) pipeline rupture near Sikharia Halt Station in Bhojpur last Thursday.

``Roughly 200 kilolitres of petro products had been destroyed,'' the IOC chairman, Mr. M. A. Pathan, told reporters here.

Excessive pressure in the pipeline may be the reason for the rupture, he said.

Highly inflammable petrol started flowing through the damaged pipeline leading to a fire which caused burn injuries to two persons.

Repair work of the pipeline was on in full swing and supply will be restored within a fortnight, he said.

Supply of petroleum products, including diesel, petrol and kerosene in the region, would not be affected as they were being supplied to various places by road or rail, he said.

Mr. Pathan said a high-powered committee headed by executive director of pipelines division was investigating the cause of the leak.

Excavation was being carried out along the pipeline trench near the spot.

Denying reports that the leakage had started in the pipeline at Sikharia five days before the fire, he said the entire Barauni- Kanpur line was inspected in January and April last year for probable defects.

Regular inspection and checks were carried out to ensure smooth flow of petroleum products in the underground pipeline.

There had been no complaints of leakage till April 12 when the pipeline ruptured, he said.

On the safety of pipelines in view of threats of militant outfits, like the ULFA and growing extremism in Bihar, Mr. Pathan said, ``In case of threats, we seek the cooperation of the respective governments to guard the pipelines and check any damage,'' he said.

Mr. Pathan said the pipelines passing through West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand were fully protected,'' he added.

The IOC director (pipeline) Mr. S. N. Jha said all preventive maintenance measures had been taken to avoid such leakage in future, he said.

- PTI

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