Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Sep 19: A siren was raised from the Indian Oil Corporation, Mangalore Terminal at Panambur on Thursday September 18, with a Tank Lorry Filling (TLF) operator screaming, 'fire fire fire' from the spot where oil is being filled into a truck.
Soon, the area was engulfed by vapour and subsequently a fire was spotted, posing threat of developing in an inferno at any time. But, the operator at TLF bay opened the fire extinguisher to contain the same. Meanwhile, the fire combat team rushed to the spot with the Fire Chief Officer instructing to operate water cum Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) to extinguish the fire based on wind direction.
Simultaneously, to avert the spread of fire, the adjacent petroleum tanks were acted upon fixed water cooling system. Soon, the auxiliary team also reached the spot supplying more foams, hoses and so on to support the fire combat team. The rescue team searched for any mishaps and found the injured truck driver and he was soon shifted to the safety zone in a stretcher. After the first aid treatment, he was rushed to the nearby hospital. Meantime, three fire brigades from the neighbouring companies.
Mangalore Chemical Fertilizers (MCF), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) reached the spot to strengthen the fire extinguishing process. After extinguishing the fire, the Fire Chief declared, "All clear" which was again communicated through another siren.
"The 12-minute long onsite mock drill conducted under 'emergency response and disaster management plan 'on Thursday tested the IOC's preparedness to face any emergency situation and it has been a success," said the Chief Terminal Manager S K Chaudhuri.
"The IOC Mangalore terminal, situated on 25 acres has a storage capacity of 1,22,452 kilo litre petroleum products such as Motor Sspirit, Kerosene, High Speed Diesel, Ethanol, Naphtha and so on. It is catering to the needs of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada districts," he added.
Safety measures
Chaudhuri said that as per the recommendations of M B Lal committee, which was set up by the centre in the aftermath of Jaipur fire accident in 2009 to look into the safety features of IOC terminals across India, projects worth Rs 32 crores has been sanctioned in the Mangalore terminal and the implementation is under various stages.
"Installation of latest technologies like hydrocarbon detectors, automated rim seal fire protection system, high volume long range monitors (HVLR), medium expansion foam generator (MEFG), double block and bleed valve (DBBV) and remote operated shut off valve (Rosov) are included in the project," he elaborated.
At the review meet, post the mock drill, participants pointed to the flaws of NMPT fire tender service reaching the spot minutes late, rescue workers running through the foam and initial confusion among the fire service personnel when they entered the main gate of the IOC. Deputy Director of Factories and Boilers K G Nanjappa, City Police Commissioner R Hithendra, Assistant Director of Factories H Suresh, MRPL, KIOCL, NMPT and MCF representatives took part.