Bhubaneswar: The report of the investigation into the explosion at petrol station near Raj Bhavan in the city on October 7 has put the blame on an officer of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
The report, which has pointed out violation of 12 points of SOP at the petrol pump, said IOCL authorised officer and representative of the contractor Surya Shakti Vessels Ltd have committed criminal negligence.
“The entire responsibility lies with IOCL including tendering, monitoring of the work and ensuring safety standards as per SOP,” the report read.
Following are the highlights of the report:
- The tender was awarded by IOCL to a party who is not competent to carry out such test as per SMPV rules.
- Some parts of the work were subcontracted to other parties by the main contractor Surya Shakti Vessels Ltd with knowledge of IOCL.
- Incompetent persons were engaged. They were not issued gate passes but allowed to work.
- The IOCL representative was not present when the work for the second vessel, which exploded, was underway at the petrol pump.
- The work for the first cylinder was completed in 5 days while the second cylinder was finished in just 2 days.
- As per guidelines, dispensation of petrol/diesel/LPG was to be stopped during the work, which was not done.
- The Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) guidelines state that both underground cylinders need to be tested before filling up with LPG. But LPG was filled up in one cylinder before completion of work in the other one.
- The cylinder that exploded was not cleared properly due to lack of technical staff and supervision.
