Jaipur, April 20 (NationPress) The Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, V. Srinivas, has described the fire incident at the Pachpadra refinery as "highly regrettable". He emphasized that a comprehensive investigation will be launched to determine the precise cause of the fire and the events that led to it.

Addressing the media in Jodhpur, he mentioned that the fire erupted in the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU). Fortunately, he noted, the emergency response teams have successfully contained the fire.

He reiterated that a thorough investigation would be undertaken to identify the cause of the incident and assess any potential negligence. He praised the refinery’s engineers and response teams for their prompt action, which helped avert a larger catastrophe.

"I have just returned from Pachpadra, and I can confirm that the fire is now under control. A detailed inquiry is forthcoming. The engineers managed to extinguish the blaze without any accidents, ensuring everyone's safety as we await further information," he stated during a press interaction.

The Chief Secretary confirmed that there have been no reported casualties, and all personnel at the facility are safe. Furthermore, he announced that Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is scheduled to visit the Pachpadra refinery on the morning of April 21.

He will also revisit the site to gather more information as further assessments and evaluations are conducted. Currently, the situation is stable, secured, and being closely monitored by the relevant authorities.

In the meantime, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grave concerns regarding the incident. He pointed out that the fire occurred just a day before the refinery's inauguration and the planned visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (which has now been postponed), raising critical issues about safety measures and preparedness.

Gehlot questioned whether the inauguration schedule was set without adequate readiness, suggesting that hastiness and administrative pressure may have contributed to the incident.

He further noted that this event has delayed the launch of this crucial project, extending the state’s wait for its expected economic and industrial advantages. He urged both the Union and state governments to initiate a high-level investigation to uncover the root causes and establish accountability.

Notably, a significant fire erupted at the refinery in Pachpadra, causing widespread panic in parts of Rajasthan. At approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, an exchanger in the CDU–VDU section burst, leading to a rapid escalation into a major fire.

The incident caused turmoil within the refinery, prompting immediate evacuation of employees and officials as a precaution. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported up to this point.

This accident occurred just prior to PM Modi's highly anticipated inauguration of the refinery project. Following the incident, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced the postponement of the inauguration ceremony.

As per the Ministry’s statement, the fire has been controlled, and an inquiry has been initiated to prevent future occurrences and ensure stricter adherence to safety guidelines.