The Assam government is planning legal action against Indian Oil Corporation for allegedly supplying a variety of kerosene that caused stove and lantern blasts in which 10 persons died since July 22.
Assam food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam said: “Indian Oil Corporation is responsible for the kerosene blasts. We will register a criminal case against IOC and the CID will investigate the matter.”
Islam said the forensic test laboratory reports “proved” IOC was responsible for the kerosene blasts.
On Wednesday, a woman injured in a kerosene-stove blast in Dhubri district, 220 km from Guwahati, died in hospital.
The kerosene samples collected from different depots of the affected districts were tested at the Forensic Science Laboratory here.
When IOC tested kerosene samples at the Bongaigaon refinery, it found the kerosene was of inferior quality and its flash point (the temperature at
which a fuel burns) was below 35 degree Celsius. At this temperature, kerosene catches fire when brought near heat.
“We collected 49 samples after the accidents and found two of them faulty. We believe kerosene is being contaminated at the retail market. We are, however, ready for any investigation,” said Priobash Dey, general manager, IOC (NE Integrated State Office).
{{/usCountry}}“We collected 49 samples after the accidents and found two of them faulty. We believe kerosene is being contaminated at the retail market. We are, however, ready for any investigation,” said Priobash Dey, general manager, IOC (NE Integrated State Office).
{{/usCountry}}After the blasts, the sale of kerosene was banned in Dhubri district, which bore the brunt of the problem.
The government has asked deputy commissioners of all the districts to check the kerosene before supplying to consumers.