Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 29 2009:
Amidst unconfirmed reports of adulteration and siphoning of fuel oil from oil tankers at Mao, an oil tanker caught fire while oil was being siphoned off at Awang Leikinthabi Shantipur this morning.
The oil tanker having oil to its full capacity suddenly caught fire at the house of Naorem Tomba when oil was being siphoned off in unauthorised manner.
The fire raged some portions of Tomba's house besides engulfing a kitchen of the neighbouring house.
According to the local people who saw the incident, oil was being siphoned off from the oil tanker using a small water pump set (Tulu) into reservoirs of 2000 litres capacity when the oil tanker suddenly caught fire.
Just as the fire broke in the fuel outlet of the oil tanker, the driver drove away the tanker towards Leikinthabi.
As the burning vehicle went past them, road-side trees were also either charred or burnt for as far as 2 kms.
A relative of Naorem Tomba said that the fuel oil belonged to one Rajen of Kwakeithel Moirangpurel.
Taking a house on rent, Tomba started siphoning off fuel oil since a month back.
Earlier, he used to siphon off fuel at the house of one Basanta located Khraman Khul, to the west of Khonghampat Mantri Leikai.
On an average, fuel oil was siphoned off from two to six oil tankers every day.
The fire that broke out from the oil tankers' outlet devastated a kutcha house and six reservoirs of 2000 litres capacity kept inside the house.
Following the mishap, Sekmai police have registered a case under Petroleum Act.
According to the OC of Sekmai PS, Naorem Tomba and one L Bijen of Khraman were jointly engaged in unauthorised dealing and storage of fuel oil earlier too.