Friday, July 29, 2011

Dhubri, India: Aviation fuel suspected in kerosene

Dhubri, July 28: A source in Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals today said there was a possibility that aviation fuel was present in the kerosene samples that were tested after the recent explosions of stoves in Dhubri and Bongaigaon districts.

Aviation fuel is a kerosene-based substance and contains zero percentage water. It is cheaper than the kerosene sold under the public distribution system (PDS).

Aviation fuel lowers the flash point (the temperature at which the fuel burns) of kerosene when mixed with it and makes it a highly inflammable substance. Every fuel has a separate flash point. In case of kerosene, it is 35 degrees Celsius, which means that kerosene will catch fire at that temperature. If the flash point comes down below 35 degrees Celsius, then it means that the kerosene contains some high inflammable substance or substances, which catch fire below 35 degrees Celsius, a source said.

He added that the racketeers involved in mixing aviation fuel with kerosene usually ensure that the flash point of kerosene (distributed under the PDS) remains between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius so that it causes no damage. In the recent cases of explosions, more aviation fuel seems to have been mixed with kerosene to earn more money, resulting in much lower flash point, he alleged.

The two samples of kerosene collected from Dhubri by Indian Oil Corporation officials were found to have flash points of 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. The IOC submitted its report to the Dhubri district deputy commissioner on Tuesday.

It is being alleged that a section of IOC officials and district administrators in connivance with some traders are making efforts to cover up the anomalies in blue-coloured kerosene.

A senior police official in Dhubri district said they had sent samples of kerosene to the Guwahati Forensic Laboratory and its report was expected by tomorrow.

Dispur today asked the deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers (civil) to collect the blue-coloured kerosene samples from sensitive areas and depots and send these to the Forensic Laboratory at Guwahati for investigation and to take all preventive and precautionary steps to ensure the safety of consumers. Dispur has also asked officials to associate IOC officials while conducting their inquiry

Assam food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam arrived here today and met family members of the victims, visited the wounded in hospital and enquired about the medical treatment being provided to them. He told reporters that he had asked the superintendent of police to register criminal cases against those responsible for the explosions. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,000 to the wounded.

The general manager (operation) IOC, Guwahati, Priya Vas Dey today said their final report would be available within 24 hours. "There is no fault in our kerosene supplied to dealers. Anyone can test it for his satisfaction," he added.

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