Sarthak Kanjilal Port Blair, Feb 27: Lacking watch and ward apparatus, long hour parking of Oil Tankers has triggered fear among Andaman Trunk Road users of a likely fire catastrophe at the convoy start point at Jirkatang. According to reports, about 4-6 loaded Oil Tankers reach Jirkatang by late evening almost everyday to avail the first convoy at 6 am the next day. All the vehicles remain parked at the region, which goes deserted by 7 pm every day. Further, tourist vehicles start making serpentine queues from 5 am each day for the first convoy and hundreds of tourists seen keenly smoking near the Oil Tankers could spell a major fire disaster in future. “It has become a practice for the drivers of Oil Tankers to reach Jirkatang by late evening in order to take the first convoy on the next day. Drivers slumber in the vehicle or elsewhere the entire night in the region, which goes empty by 7 pm. In such a situation, a minor spark could lead to a major fire mishap in the area. The situation becomes even scarier in the morning when hundreds of tourists are seen candidly smoking cigarettes near the Oil Tankers. Any minor human fault could cause a major catastrophe putting at risk the lives of hundreds of tourists and locals at Jirkatang,” said some tourists speaking to Andaman Sheekha. The agencies concerned in the UT Administration should instruct the Indian Oil Corporation to position proper watch and ward staff for the Oil Tankers parked for long durations at Jirkatang. In the interim, the officials in the Police Outpost in the region could also be instructed to ensure proper security of the Oil Tankers. The administration could also consider separate convoys for Oil Tankers and other Good Transport Vehicles. “We have already taken up this matter with the administration. We have asked Administration to provide security to us. This is because basically we don’t have any control outside,” said Mr Sudipto Roy, the Terminal Manager, Indian Oil Corporation in Andaman, when the matter was taken up with the IOC.
