Fuel Pipeline Bursts During Vessel Unloading At India’s Paradip Port, Spilling Thousands Of Litres Of Petrol

A major petrol spill was reported at India’s Paradip Port in Odisha on Friday after a pipeline burst during a fuel transfer operation from a vessel to an Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) terminal.

The incident happened around 5 p.m. while petrol was being unloaded from a cargo ship berthed at the port’s oil jetty.

Officials said the pipeline connecting the port to the IOCL terminal reportedly burst due to pressure during the transfer process, spilling thousands of litres of petrol.

The leak prompted an emergency response at the port, with CISF personnel, fire services and IOCL teams deployed in the restricted area near Gate No. 1 to prevent any fire or explosion risk.

Security arrangements around the affected zone were also tightened.

Officials said CISF personnel patrolling the prohibited area first noticed a strong smell of petrol and suspected a leak in the pipeline passing through the area.

Authorities of IOCL were immediately informed, following which a technical team reached the site and found the damaged section of the pipeline.

Sources said some of the spilled petrol entered nearby water bodies and the sea, causing panic among local residents and port workers.

A senior Paradip Port official said the pipeline burst occurred in an isolated area and no injuries or casualties were reported. The leakage was later sealed by IOCL experts.

“The petrol was being transported through a pipeline from the oil jetty near Nehru bungalow to the oil terminal near Bauripalanda village when the leakage was spotted,” IOCL official R.K. Sahoo said.

He said the IOCL maintenance team present at the site immediately started work to stop the leakage. According to him, the spilled fuel was recovered using a Mobile Oil Spill Recovery Unit (MOSRU) before the area was cleaned.

Sahoo added that the jetty pipeline continued to be monitored throughout Friday to check for any additional leaks, but no further leakage was detected.

Paradip Port Authority said unloading operations would resume only after repair work and safety checks are completed.

The exact reason behind the pipeline damage has not yet been officially confirmed. Officials said it remains unclear whether the rupture was caused by technical failure, corrosion or another external factor.

References: TOI, New Indian Express