11 hurt in NRL BLAZE

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 11: Eleven workers were injured in a fire that broke out today at the hydrocracker unit of Numaligarh Refinery.

The fire broke out in vessel No 4 during the process of starting up the Hydrocracker Unit (HCU) after its regular maintence shutdown.

The incident was reported at 11:09 am. Insiders said the fire lasted for about 40 minutes.

The fire was due to a leakage in a flange of an isolation valve of the HCU.  After the fire was brought under control, the HCU start up process was aborted. Cooling of the nearby area was continued for some more time.

Eleven persons reported at the medical center of the refinery and were released after first aid.

The refinery, a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, has been closed for about a month for routine maintence.

According to a government statement, NRL had shut the refinery for routine maintence from end-March.