Fire at India oil depot kills 5; 25 feared trapped, AS

Thu, Oct 29 07:13 PM

JAIPUR, India (AP) A fire engulfed an oil depot in western India on Thursday, leaving at least five people dead and 25 others feared trapped, an official said. Two huge explosions rocked the oil depot in Sitapura, an industrial area in the western state of Rajasthan, before the fire broke out, district collector Kuldeep Ranka told The Associated Press.

Huge flames leaped into the sky. The depot, 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jaipur, stores gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel for several state-owned oil companies, Ranka said.

He said that according to early reports five people had been killed and another 25 were feared trapped in the complex. The CNN-IBN news channel said at least 50 people were injured.

Ranka said people living near the depot were being asked to evacuate. At least 20 fire engines were battling the flames, he said.

"We're asking for expert advise to help us control the fire," Ashok Gehlot, the state's top elected official, told reporters in Jaipur.

Inside News

Editor's picks