On Tuesday evening, a fire broke out at the Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in injuries to seven workers and raising significant safety concerns. This incident follows a similar, more tragic fire at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday, which claimed the lives of two workers. Both incidents have sparked concerns over refinery safety protocols and raised questions about the preventive measures in place at these facilities.
The Mathura refinery fire, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. during start-up operations following a plant shutdown, caused burn injuries to seven workers, three of whom have been transported to Delhi for advanced treatment. According to Renu Pathak, the Public Relations Officer at Mathura Refinery, the fire was brought under control swiftly, with no fatalities reported. A detailed probe has been ordered to investigate any negligence or procedural gaps that may have contributed to the incident. Visuals from the scene showed the injured workers being rushed to the hospital, underscoring the severity of the burns sustained by some of the employees involved in the start-up activities.
Just one day before the Mathura refinery fire, a deadly blaze erupted at the IOC refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat. The fire began with an explosion in a benzene storage tank located within the refinery’s complex in Koyali, on the outskirts of Vadodara. The explosion triggered a larger blaze that spread to two adjacent tanks, resulting in the tragic loss of two workers' lives: Dhimant Makwana, a contractual worker, and Shailesh Makwana, a canteen worker. Dhimant succumbed to his injuries on Monday, while Shailesh also lost his life due to the incident. Additionally, another IOC official sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital.
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Efforts to extinguish the Vadodara blaze were intense, involving refinery firefighting teams and support from mutual aid partners. It was finally brought under control around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, as confirmed by an official IOC statement. Operations at the refinery have since resumed, ensuring continued production with minimal disruption. However, the company has announced the formation of a high-level committee to thoroughly investigate the causes of the incident and review existing safety measures.
Following the incident, Dharmendrasinh Vaghela, the BJP Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Waghodia constituency where the refinery is situated, met with IOC officials. As a result of this meeting, the refinery has agreed to provide ₹25 lakh in compensation to each family affected by the tragedy. The company has also committed to taking responsibility for the education of the deceased workers' children and offering employment to their widows, aligning with their educational qualifications.
These back-to-back incidents at two prominent refineries have raised considerable concerns regarding safety practices within the oil and gas sector. Both fires have prompted calls for stringent safety assessments and improvements, particularly given the potentially hazardous nature of refinery operations. The Mathura refinery, despite avoiding any fatalities, is conducting a probe to ascertain the specific causes of the fire and to determine whether lapses in safety protocols or technical errors contributed to the incident.
IOC’s high-level investigation at the Vadodara refinery, meanwhile, aims to identify the underlying causes behind the benzene tank explosion and subsequent fire. This probe will assess not only technical and mechanical factors but also adherence to safety regulations and protocols by personnel at the facility. The establishment of preventive measures and timely risk assessments are crucial in preventing such accidents from occurring in the future.
Both the Mathura and Vadodara incidents serve as a stark reminder of the inherent risks involved in refining operations and underscore the need for continuous review and reinforcement of safety protocols. The outcome of the probes and any additional safety measures implemented in response may play a pivotal role in ensuring worker safety and preventing future tragedies in India’s refinery sector.
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