Fire Erupts at ONGC's Bombay High Platform, Injuring Ten Personnel
A significant fire incident occurred at the ONGC South Field platform located at Bombay High on Friday evening, resulting in injuries to ten personnel. The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time, according to initial reports.
ONGC's Official Statement on the Incident
In a late-night tweet, ONGC confirmed the event, stating, "A fire was reported at 5.45 pm at ONGC’s SHP Platform, Mumbai High Asset. The situation was brought under control and the fire extinguished. Ten personnel sustained minor injuries. All are stable. Ops have been normalised." This communication indicated that the situation was managed promptly, with all affected individuals reported to be in stable condition following the incident.
Absence of Distress Call Raises Safety Concerns
Despite the emergency, it was revealed that ONGC did not activate any distress call until 10 pm, and no alerts were sent to key maritime agencies such as the Navy or Coast Guard. A Coast Guard official commented, "After learning about it via the tweet, we checked with ONGC and were informed that there was no emergency as the situation has been brought under control." This lack of immediate notification has sparked questions about adherence to safety protocols during such crises.
Typically, in emergencies of this nature, distress calls are directed to Mumbai’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). However, the centre confirmed that it did not receive any such call from ONGC, highlighting a potential gap in emergency response procedures. The incident underscores the importance of timely communication in ensuring maritime safety and effective coordination among all involved parties.
