Date:28/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/28/stories/2005072802880100.htm

Back Fire destroys ONGC rig near Mumbai; several feared dead

Our Bureau

New Delhi , July 27

A MAJOR fire broke out on Wednesday at ONGC's offshore oil platform near Mumbai, completely destroying the platform. A PTI report, quoting the Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, said several people were feared dead in the mishap.

Speaking to newspersons after making an initial assessment of the situation with the Chairman and Managing Director of ONGC, Mr Subir Raha, and other senior Petroleum Ministry officials, Mr Aiyar, stated that "there has been a major fire on the ONGC's offshore platform BHN at the Mumbai coast."

"The platform has been completely destroyed by fire," the Minister said, adding that the special vehicle deployed for the fire fighting was also on fire. The fire broke out on an ONGC oil platform off the Mumbai coast around 4 p.m., causing several casualties. The exact cause of the fire was not known.

Mr Aiyar said around 200 to 300 people were on board the platform, and a supply vessel and a rig in the area have also been destroyed. However, the exact extent of damage was yet to be assessed.

The Minister said except for the Mumbai High North platform, which caught fire, all other platforms were working normally. "Tens of thousands of barrels of production will be affected due to the fire at the platform," he added.

Mumbai High Field produces 40 per cent of the country's just over 33 million tonnes crude oil output and is home to the country's biggest gas field, Bassein.

"There has been considerable loss in production," he said, adding that his ministry would wait till Thursday for details.

Search operations have been initiated with the Defence Ministry asking the Navy and Coast Guard to chip in.

Mr Aiyar said the Centre was trying to find night landing facilities to provide medical treatment to the injured and hoped the facilities in Uran and Nava would be utilised.

He said the Petroleum Ministry, ONGC and other oil companies had been asked to help in rehabilitation of the affected families.