Fire Erupts Near Jharsuguda Airport Terminal, Swiftly Contained Without Flight Disruptions
A significant fire incident occurred near the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) terminal building adjacent to Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda on Monday around noon. Despite initial challenges, the blaze was successfully contained within approximately two hours, with authorities confirming that all scheduled flight operations remained unaffected throughout the event.
Immediate Response and Firefighting Efforts
Airport director Upendra Nath Dhaundia reported that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) fire service received an emergency call from IOCL at about 12 noon, alerting them to the fire near the terminal area. Responding with urgency, a crash fire tender from AAI, accompanied by an AAI ambulance, arrived at the scene by 12:15 pm and immediately initiated firefighting operations to control the spread of the flames.
The state fire service also joined the effort promptly, deploying one crash fire tender to assist in the containment. However, strong winds complicated the situation by spreading the fire towards the pump house area, necessitating additional resources to prevent further escalation.
Coordinated Containment and Outcome
To bolster the firefighting capabilities, authorities mobilized extra support, including an additional crash fire tender from the state fire service and another from Vedanta. This multi-agency collaboration involved teams from AAI Fire Services, the state fire service, and Vedanta working in a coordinated manner to tackle the blaze effectively.
Through their combined efforts, the fire was fully contained by around 2 pm, marking a successful resolution to the incident. Officials emphasized that aircraft operations at Veer Surendra Sai Airport continued without any interruptions, ensuring that all flights proceeded as scheduled without delays or cancellations.
This incident highlights the importance of rapid emergency response and inter-agency cooperation in managing such crises, particularly in sensitive areas like airports where safety and operational continuity are paramount.
