IndianOil teams are working round-the-clock to maintain supplies and restore normalcy in the cyclone-affected districts of Odisha. The Corporation is also rushing 1,000 solar lanterns, 10,000 candles and 5,000 weather-proof flexible sheets to Odisha. Besides, expressing solidarity with Odisha State and the iconic Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri, which was damaged due to Cyclone Fani, IndianOil has decided to support its restoration works with a contribution of Rs.5 crore.
Preemptive action to combat Cyclone Fani
Soon after receipt of information on 30th April that Cyclone Fani is on track to hit Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali on 3rdMay, IndianOil’s Odisha State Head and State-Level Coordinator for the oil industry, Mr. Subhajit Ghosh, convened an industry meeting the same day to draw up mitigation plans. With predictions of wind-speed in the range of 180 to 200 kmph implying an imminent catastrophe, IndianOil teams swiftly moved into action to ensure adequate stocks and effective planning of rescue & relief operations. A control cell began operating round-the-clock from 6 am on 2ndMay.
Stocks of petrol and diesel at all petrol pumps were topped up from 30thApril in the districts of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Gajapati, likely to be impacted by the cyclone. The Corporation operated its bulk storage installations at Jatni & Jharsuguda and LPG bottling plant at Jharsuguda even on 1stMay (Labour Day holiday) to ensure adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG for the resellers. Supplies were also topped up for major customers, especially those directly related to public services like Railways and the Coast Guard starting from 30thApr till 2ndMay. The swiftness with which the bulk storage locations and the petrol pumps were then secured against the cyclone received the appreciation of the district authorities.
Mr. Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, Mr. BV Rama Gopal, Director (Refineries), and Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Director (Marketing), reviewed the Corporation’s preparedness in the face of Cyclone Fani on 1stMay. All locations were put on red alert and construction activities suspended. Detailed plans were drawn up to ensure safety of assets and manpower at each installation.
IndianOil Sales Group was divided into teams right from 1stMay and each team ventured into various parts of the coastal belt to ensure safety-related emergency measures. Standard Operating Procedures for managing the impact pre/post/during the cyclone were passed on to each dealer/distributor, including the safety of the pump attendants.
Considering the onslaught of the cyclonic storm, IndianOil’s coastal refinery at Paradip put in place all precautionary measures and safeguards to protect people and the plant and ensured that the operations were normal during the cyclone. The refinery also extended all possible assistance to the district administration by providing essential relief material.
While the Corporation operated both the bottling plant and oil installations at Jharsuguda, the Balasore units directly in the cyclone’s path were advised to shut down as a precautionary measure. The oil installation and LPG plant at Paradip were also shut down.
Post-cyclone aftermath and IndianOil’s Response
Post-cyclone, Team IndianOil immediately embarked on a thorough exercise to assess the aftermath. Assessment in the affected areas done the same day revealed that all the petrol pumps in the districts of Bhubaneswar and Puri were damaged, in a small way or big way. With the sales team of IndianOil working ceaselessly with contractors to clear the debris from the affected petrol pumps in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, fuel dispensing resumed from all pumps in Khurda/Cuttack district and Bhubaneswar city on 6thMay. Twelve of the 22 petrol pumps in Puri district were majorly impacted by the cyclone, including 2 in Puri town. IndianOil teams are working round-the-clock to restore supplies from these outlets at the earliest
Meanwhile, contingency plans were drawn up for supply locations of Paradip/Balasore and Jharsuguda to feed petrol pumps ex-Jatni since the situation at Jatni was very bad with no connectivity. Supplies could be restored from Jatni Depot by the late on 4thMay. Priority was given to the requirements of district administration for rescue supplies. All major consumers, including Railways, Airport Authority of India, NIC, were given immediate supplies. Rescue supplies were reached to public health department’s water pumping stations at Puri and Bhubaneswar
IndianOil rushed five mobile dispensing units from Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to Odisha to aid emergency fuelling and rescue operations and to restore telecom and ambulance services. LPG supplies were made normal by operating the plants over extended hours and on Sunday. Refill delivery commenced in all affected districts and IndianOil teams are camping in Puri district to ensure smooth supplies to customers.
PHOTO CAPTIONS -
IMAGE 1 - Autos getting refuelled from an IndianOil Auto LPG Pump.
IMAGE 2 - Fuel dispensing being carried in an IndianOil Retail Outlet (petrol pump).
IMAGE 3 - IndianOil's mobile dispensing unit serving the needs of stranded trucks.
(Kalikrishna M)
Executive Director (Corporate Communications)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Corporate Office
New Delhi
