Panic gripped Uran on Monday, September 8 in the afternoon after a massive fire broke out at the ONGC plant, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky that could be seen from miles away. The incident occurred around 2.15 pm near the main crude oil pipeline that carries fuel from the Arabian Sea to the facility.
As soon as the flames erupted, residents of nearby villages such as Nagav and Kegaon rushed out of their homes in fear, recalling past tragedies at the same plant. Roads leading to the site were quickly blocked by the authorities as a precautionary measure, further intensifying anxiety among locals who feared the blaze might spread.
Multiple fire tenders, including ONGC’s own firefighting unit, were pressed into service.
Dr. Uddhav Kadam, Uran Tehsildar said, “The fire was brought under control by evening after several hours of continuous dousing operations. The situation is under control and there is no danger to the surrounding areas.”
ONGC’s Public Relations team also clarified that there were no casualties or injuries reported in the incident. Employees at the facility were evacuated as a precaution, and operations in the affected section were suspended until further inspection.
For the villagers living in Uran, however, the fire revived haunting memories. The ONGC plant has been witness to serious mishaps in the past, including the 2019 blaze that claimed the lives of four employees and injured several others.
One of the residents from Nagav said, “Every time we see smoke rising from the plant, our hearts skip a beat. Today’s fire brought back those memories.”
By evening, visuals of the flames and the towering smoke columns had gone viral on social media, adding to the frenzy. Police had to manage curious onlookers who gathered near the blocked approach roads to get a glimpse of the fire.
While officials are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the blaze, safety experts say repeated incidents at the Uran facility highlight the need for stricter monitoring of crude transfer pipelines and regular audits of fire safety systems.
