PULPIT-7 was destroyed in a massive fire outbreak at Rail and Structural Mill (RSM) of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) on late Wednesday night. However, no one was hurt in the fire mishap. According to the information, at about 11:45 pm Wednesday, all of a sudden fire broke out and it soon engulfed Pulpit-7 area with emission of thick smoke and flames reaching high. After information the well-equipped fire fighting squads from Fire Brigade Department of BSP reached the troubled location and doused the fire. It was a tedious fire fighting exercise but the squads managed to put out. As per the information, there were about six to seven employees, including relievers at the control room in the Pulpit-7 and they managed to escape unhurt as fire broke out.

 

 

 

As per the sources in the fire mishap whole Pulpit operating system along with cables, AC system and liver operating system got destroyed. The sources said that as part of rail making process a constant 1200 degree temperature is maintained for bloom rolling. Being a fire-sensitive zone minor fires occur in the area and are extinguished immediately. There is also a hydraulic system in Pulpit operating process and leakage of oil or grease might have caused the fire. However, the reason behind the fire would finally be ascertained after a thorough investigation. Public Relation Department, BSP officials informed that at 11:45 PM during C shift on Wednesday, a fire occurred below Tilting Table No 3 during the rolling of thick web asymmetric rail at RSM in BSP.

 

The Plant’s Fire Brigade was immediately summoned. The fire was below the rolling field plates and their removal was not immediately possible as the plates had become hot. Also because of the smoke, it was not safe to send crane operators to the area. Such conditions also made it difficult to directly approach the fire. As a result, the fire damaged a portion of Pulpit-7. Fire could finally be extinguished after about an hour. The fire has also resulted in damages to motors and cables. While the cause of the fire is being investigated, repair work has been taken up on war footing. Other electrical and mechanical pending repair jobs in the mill have been clubbed along with this work. The repair jobs are expected to take six to seven shifts, following which the Mill will resume normal operations.