Jaipur:
The massive fire at Jaipur's Indian Oil Corporation depot continues non stop, over 60 hours after it began. Ten people have been killed, four others are still missing and nearly 200 were injured in the crisis.
The government says the fire is likely to be doused by Sunday afternoon. But it has already inflicted colossal losses. Besides burning fuel worth Rs 500 crore, the fire has damaged hundreds of shops and factories, estimated at another Rs 500 crores. And it's ruined the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in the area.
As the blazing fire rage on relentlessly, the havoc inflicted by flames from Jaipur's IOC depot is getting clearer. While two dozen factories were gutted, over 500 others in Sitapura Industrial area were badly damaged, like Ashok Singh's jewellery unit where the shattered glass and jewellery pieces are a sign of the disaster that the fire tragedy has left.
"I've lost crores and crores because of this fire. We have been totally ruined. We don't know what we will do now. We are just watching this tragedy helplessly," said Ashok Singh, owner, Jaipur Jewels.
But with so many factories damaged and closed, over 20,000 workers have suddenly become jobless. While many are currently surviving in relief camps, daily wage labourers don't know how they'll earn a living in future.
"I have been sitting idle ever since the fire. I have no idea how and when I will now earn some money to feed my children," said Mohan Lal, a labourer.
While the fire is now confined to just four of the depot's 11 containers, the heavy smoke billowing out poses major health hazards. Experts say these toxic fumes could trigger long-term complications for patients of asthma and respiratory diseases in the area.
Roofs have collapsed, factories have been damaged, glass has been shattered in this terrible tragedy. While all those may gradually be reconstructed, the big question is will the lives of the thousands who depend on this industrial area for a living ever be rebuilt.
The government says the fire is likely to be doused by Sunday afternoon. But it has already inflicted colossal losses. Besides burning fuel worth Rs 500 crore, the fire has damaged hundreds of shops and factories, estimated at another Rs 500 crores. And it's ruined the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in the area.
As the blazing fire rage on relentlessly, the havoc inflicted by flames from Jaipur's IOC depot is getting clearer. While two dozen factories were gutted, over 500 others in Sitapura Industrial area were badly damaged, like Ashok Singh's jewellery unit where the shattered glass and jewellery pieces are a sign of the disaster that the fire tragedy has left.
"I've lost crores and crores because of this fire. We have been totally ruined. We don't know what we will do now. We are just watching this tragedy helplessly," said Ashok Singh, owner, Jaipur Jewels.
But with so many factories damaged and closed, over 20,000 workers have suddenly become jobless. While many are currently surviving in relief camps, daily wage labourers don't know how they'll earn a living in future.
"I have been sitting idle ever since the fire. I have no idea how and when I will now earn some money to feed my children," said Mohan Lal, a labourer.
While the fire is now confined to just four of the depot's 11 containers, the heavy smoke billowing out poses major health hazards. Experts say these toxic fumes could trigger long-term complications for patients of asthma and respiratory diseases in the area.
Roofs have collapsed, factories have been damaged, glass has been shattered in this terrible tragedy. While all those may gradually be reconstructed, the big question is will the lives of the thousands who depend on this industrial area for a living ever be rebuilt.
