DERGAON, May 11 � A major fire broke out at the hydro cracker unit of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) around 11 am today, resulting in injury to eight persons and a heavy loss to the refinery.
The flame that rose to a height of about twenty-five feet, damaged several chambers. The fire at the top was controlled after some time, but that in the lower part could be brought under control only after three hours.
Of the eight persons injured, the condition of two was said to be critical and they are being treated at the NRL Vivekananda Kendra Hospital.
Though the actual cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, NRL sources revealed that due to a leakage of a valve in the unit, the pressure level rose and caused the fire. According to a source the loss incurred due to the fire could run up to over one crore rupees.