Heavy rains flood HPCL LPG plant in Raigarh, Maharashtra, 3,000 cylinders flow into Patalganga river. The administration warned people not to touch the cylinders. Know the entire incident.
Raigarh/Mumbai: Such a horrifying and shocking picture has emerged from Raigarh district of Maharashtra, which has created an atmosphere of panic in the entire area. A government gas bottling plant got submerged in water amid severe floods following torrential rains. What happened next was no less than a terrible disaster – not one or two but about 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept away into the Patalganga river by the strong current of the flood. Now these thousands of cylinders floating in the river water are moving forward like a ‘time bomb’, due to which the entire administration is in trouble.
How did the accident happen? There was chaos due to filling of water in the plant
According to the information, this shocking incident took place at HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant located on Plot No. E-1/7 located at MIDC Chawane under Panvel Taluka of Raigarh District. For the last few days, it is raining heavily in Raigarh and surrounding areas. Patalganga river was in spate due to heavy rains and suddenly the dirty, strong water of the river entered inside the plant breaking the protective walls. The flow of water was so dangerous that it started washing away the heavy cylinders kept in the plant’s yard like straw. Within no time, about 3,000 cylinders (including both filled and empty) were swept away with the water flow and ended up directly in the main stream of the Patalganga river.
Scroll to load tweet…
When shells of death started floating on the chest of the river: Video viral on social media
As soon as the morning broke, many hair-raising videos and pictures of this incident started going viral on social media. In the video, it can be seen that hundreds of red colored gas cylinders are floating like human corpses on the waves of muddy water. This sight was more scary than it was shocking. The most shocking thing was that despite the prohibition of the administration, at some places people were seen risking their lives and trying to pull these cylinders from the river bank and take them to their homes. This ignorance of people has increased the risk of a possible major blast or accident manifold.
Scroll to load tweet…
“Curiosity will prove costly…” That scary warning from the District Collector!
As soon as this news reached Raigarh District Collector Kishan Jawale, he immediately took a tough stance and issued a very serious and scary advisory for the entire area. Collector Javale appealed with folded hands to all the citizens living in coastal areas and in the direction of the flow of the river, not to go near these cylinders. The Collector warned simply: “There is no guarantee as to how much gas is left in these cylinders floating in the river or in what safe condition they are at the moment. Due to the strong flow of water and hitting the stones, their valves may become loose or gas may leak. Touching, picking up, opening or taking them to your home out of curiosity or personal greed can be extremely dangerous. This is like inviting death. Citizens themselves And don’t put your family at risk.” The administration has given strict instructions that if any villager or passerby sees any cylinder stuck on the banks of the river or in the bushes, then he should not show the courage to take it out himself, but should immediately inform the local police or disaster management team.
Scroll to load tweet…
‘Accounting of deeds’ or the havoc of nature? Outcry from Kolhapur to Raigarh
Meanwhile, various types of discussions have started on the internet regarding this disastrous incident. Some locals and social media posts are calling it ‘karmic justice’. People say that just 3 months ago, some hoarders and warehouse owners of the same area had allegedly defrauded the poor and black-marketed LPG, and today this flood of nature washed away the entire warehouse. People are writing that – “Accounting of karma may happen late, but it definitely happens.” However, flood water has reached many gas warehouses in Raigarh and neighboring district Kolhapur, due to which the loss figure may increase further.
‘Search operation’ in the river: Government teams engaged in finding the cylinders
At present, Raigarh district administration, local police, MIDC officials and rescue teams of HPCL company are on high alert. A large-scale search operation is being carried out in the downstream areas and creeks of the Patalganga river, so that these ‘floating dangers’ floating in the river can be pulled out of the water in time and any major explosive accident can be averted. The entire situation is being monitored moment by moment.
A small carelessness can become a big danger
Officials say that considering any LPG cylinder found after the flood as a normal object can be a big mistake. Such cylinders can cause accidents due to pressure, damage or valve failure. At present, the biggest priority is the safety of the people and safe removal of the cylinders floating in the river. The administration has clearly said that caution is the biggest protection at this time.