M A I N   N E W S

Major fire in IOC pipeline

Ara, April 12
A sudden blaze resulting from leakage in the Barauni-Kanpur pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Sikaria station, 72 km from Patna, was controlled in the afternoon.

Two persons suffered burns in the fire.

Ramesh Kumar, Manager (Operation), IOC, who led the fire-fighting operation told PTI at the site that a portion of earth over the pipeline suddenly cracked and the petrol being supplied by Barauni Oil Refinery to Kanpur through the vital pipeline gushed out like a fountain at 7 am.

Villagers of Bankat and Sikaria rushed with containers to store petrol. In the meantime, as a portion of petrol flowed down to Chher river a fire broke out in the river and adjoining areas, Mr Kumar said.

Arjuna Yadav and Dinanath Yadav who were smoking bidis on the river bank suffered burns and were sent to hospital.

Situation was fully under control and there was no danger now, he said. IOC officials, however, did not rule out the possibility of sabotage. PTI

Gujral in AIIMS

New Delhi, April 12
Former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral has been admitted to the super-speciality AIIMS Hospital for “observation and investigations”, a hospital spokesman said here today. Mr Gujral was hospitalised last night. His condition was “stable”.

The spokesman said he was “suffering from general discomfort.” UNI