Diesel leak from HPCL depot triggers panic at Elathur in Kozhikode in Kerala

Local residents help HPCL workers recover leaked fuel in Elathur on December 4. | Photo credit: special arrangement

A group of local residents and members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India staged a protest outside the Elathur depot of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) on Wednesday (December 4), following a large quantity of diesel leakage in the sewers nearby. after emergency maintenance work.

Around five barrels of leaked fuel were recovered from the drains near the depot with the support of HPCL workers and local people following the incident which was reported to the fire and rescue services around 5:30 p.m.

The protesters claimed that the negligence of maintenance workers posed a huge threat to the security of the locality. They also claimed that the leak was a constant problem in the area even after it was brought to the notice of HPCL authorities.

“We were able to collect the leaked fuel using buckets and plastic bottles to avoid any safety hazards. Severe legal action should be taken against the people behind this negligence,” said a local resident who came to support the firefighters and rescue services on site. He also alleged that even officials of the Ministry of Works were aware of similar incidents in the past at the same location.

The protesters also claimed that no helpline number of HPCL’s Elathur depot mentioned on the official portal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was found operational to inquire about security measures. People then called the police for emergency intervention, they said.

Police officers at Elathur police station said they adopted all possible security measures in the area soon after confirming the leak. HPCL workers were also very upset and reluctant to speak out following the mounting protests and public backlash, they said, adding that the failure of an overflow alert mechanism was believed to be the reason for the accidental leak. of fuel.