Three persons died and 44 were injured, many of them critically, when a fire broke out at a unit of the Indian Oil Corporation’s refinery in Haldia on Tuesday afternoon.
The flash fire was reported at the under-maintenance motor spirit quality (MSQ) unit shortly after a safety drill for employees and contractual workers in the area.
An IOC source said the fire started around 2.50pm when sparks from a welding operation landed on inflammable material being used for the job, causing an explosion. One of the cylinders brought for welding appeared to have exploded, the source added.
