T’puram: Three workers suffered burn injuries after fuel that had leaked from an underground storage tank at a petrol pump accumulated in a nearby well and caught fire during cleaning work at Kallambalam on Thursday.The injured are Kallambalam natives Vineeth, Rakesh and Sunu. Vineeth and Rakesh were shifted to ICU of the medical college hospital, while Sunu is undergoing treatment at Attingal taluk hospital.The incident occurred at an Indian Oil petrol pump at Kallambalam. According to preliminary information, fuel leaked from one of the storage tanks at the pump and seeped into a nearby well, contaminating the water. The pump owner subsequently engaged the three workers to clean the well.The workers first pumped out the contaminated water from the well. After the water was removed, they reportedly used a matchstick to check whether the air inside the well was safe before proceeding with the cleaning work.The flame came into contact with fuel vapour that had accumulated inside the well, triggering a sudden fire. The three workers sustained burns to their face, abdomen and hands.They were immediately taken to nearby hospitals.The incident has raised concerns among residents in the area, particularly over the fuel leak and the safety measures followed while cleaning the contaminated well. Authorities are expected to examine the source of the leakage and whether adequate safety precautions were followed during the cleaning operation.Officials will also have to ascertain whether the petrol pump’s storage and fuel-handling systems were functioning properly and if the leak had been detected in time. Kallambalam Police have registered the case and began the investigation.
