Fire at Petrotrin threatens houses

FIRE officials were called out to the Petrotrin facility in Barrackpore after a ruptured pipeline exploded on  Monday causing a fire threat to two nearby houses. Fortunately, the flames were doused before spreading to the rest of the facility or the nearby houses. There were no injuries reported. The drama unfloded around 8.15 am at the Barrackpore Compressor Unit #1, at Wilson Road, Barrackpore. According to Petrotrin Corporate Communications Manager, Arnold Corneal, a six-inch gas pipeline, which pumps gas from the compressor unit to a resorvoir field broke. Corneal said the fire was isolated to the facility and within a half-an-hour they were able to extinquish the flames.

“There were two homes across the street, close to the area, and they witnessed the small explosion. They (families) were scared because of what they saw since the flames were 10 to 12 feet high. Their electricity went but it was restored within an hour,” he stated. Corneal stated that it was “techincally a small fire,” which was brought under control as soon as the gas was turned off. He said both Petrotrin and fire officials have launched a full scale investigation to determine what had caused the pipeline to rupture. The area had been cordorned off and Petrotrin officials were in the process of having the line repaired.