Fire at Vasco still uncontrollable: Officials

Panaji, Aug 20 (IBNS) The naphtha fire incident took another turn after a nearby waterbody came in contact with the acid running through the damaged pipeline and caught fire.

The uncontrolled spread of fire has put the state administration into tricky situation as the fire fighters are battling to douse the huge flames since last night.

The first naphtha pipeline to explode was at Gandhinagar in Vasco late last night.

Fire officials said the explosion occurred as the pipeline carrying naphtha to Zuari industries limited at Vasco ruptured all of a sudden.

"The naphtha leak came in touch with the overhead high tension electricity line and busted into flames. The fire tenders had almost doused the fire at 2am but a nearby water body caught fire, worsening the situation," Director of Fire and Emergencies Ashok Menon, who is at the spot since last night, said.

Hundreds of people living in the navy quarters near the accident spot have been evacuated while several injured are undergoing treatment in the Goa Medical College at Bambolim.

Around 20 fire tenders are dousing the fire using chemical foam as the fire is still billowing higher.

Deputy Collector (South Goa) Levinson Martins said the original leakage has been stopped temporarily after allowing the fire to be burnt in controlled manner.

Besides the fire fighters, police and doctors present at the site, the government has put in operation trained personnel from the Disaster Management Plan.

"It is becoming difficult to douse the fire as it is being emitted from naphtha, but our efforts are on to bring the situation under control," Menon said.

(Reporting by John Edwards)