Hundreds evacuated as fire breaks out at HPCL

 A massive fire broke out in the Cherlapally industrial area after around 40 LPG cylinders exploded at the bottling plant of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

HYDERABAD: A massive fire broke out in the Cherlapally industrial area after around 40 LPG cylinders exploded at the bottling plant of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) in the area in Hyderabad on Thursday. Following the accident at 8.30 pm, hundreds of people living in a 2km-radius of the plant were evacuated. 


The situation was brought under control after nearly three hours of firefighting, officials said. Eight fire tenders from Cherlapally, Moula Ali, Malkajgiri, Jeedimetla, Sanathnagar, Musheerabad, Shameerpet and Airport area were pressed into action along with support from National and State Disaster Response Force teams. A total of 600 LPG cylinders were at the plant and tens of cylinders exploded in a span of two hours, creating huge panic among the public. Anticipating that the fire could spread to the surrounding area, public and media were not allowed to enter a 2km radius of the plant even as residents within that area were evacuated. Since 8.35 pm, trains passing through Cherlapally railway station were also halted as the railway track is located 1km from the plant. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport officials were also alerted.


“Situation is completely under control at the gas plant. No casualties or injuries are reported. The rescue teams managed to enter the premises now and estimation and analysis of the cause of fire is being ascertained,” additional divisonal fire officer (Cherlapally) Shankar Lingam said. According to him, the explosion could have been caused by sparks having erupted during refilling of cylinders. Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said at least 40 gas cylinders exploded in the fire accident.Greater Hyderabad Municipal Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, police and revenue officials were at the spot. 

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