Bhubaneshwar: A massive explosion caused in a petroleum station
in the area of Raj Bhawan sent the city of Bhubaneshwar into shock. According
to the reports, nine people have been injured due to the explosion and two of
the critically injured individuals in those nine people have been moved to SCB Hospital.
According to the witnesses, the blast occurred on Wednesday afternoon at a petroleum
pump which was not far from Raj Bhawan. It is believed that an underground
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) storage tanker had exploded causing the massive
explosion. Firefighters were able to stop the fire after an hour of efforts.
According to the witnesses, the blast site has been strewn with human flesh and
severed limbs. They also fear that there are chances of people being buried
under the debris.
As a precautionary measure, the police had cordoned off the
area, and the nearby shops were evacuated. The officials have also advised the neighbourhood
residents to not light the stoves as a precaution until they were told to do so
by the officials. The Indian Oil Corporation sent its representatives to the blast
site and the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has ordered a probe
into the incident. The authorities are closely monitoring the site and have
already deployed personnel to empty out the reserves in the petrol station.
