I was present in the factory when the incident took place. The media has blown the incident out of proportion. The incident occurred around 10:00 am during a short circuit test on a finished transformer. The test bed area is located at the perimeter of the manufacturing block, with a gate that is 20 feet wide and 30 feet high. The test was witnessed by the General Manager of the Transformer area, other senior officials, and customer representatives. There is some oil dampness in the area. Suddenly, a flash occurred, and sparks fell into the oil, causing a fire. Despite attempts to douse the fire, it could not be controlled, and it spread to surrounding areas, raging for nearly three hours.
Facts About the Incident
The facts are that nobody was injured. The transformer under test did not explode. However, two other transformers lined up for testing were damaged. The electricity supply and gas (oxygen and acetylene) were restored in other blocks that same evening. Production was in full swing from the second shift in other areas, and the transformer block, except for the test area, was functioning from the next day. Nearby transformer oil storage tanks did not catch fire or sustain damage. The only losses were the three damaged transformers and the test area that needs complete reconstruction. A fact-finding inquiry is investigating the reasons for the incident, and the restoration of testing activity is being expedited.
Media Coverage
The media, without verifying the ground realities, has spread various exaggerations and oversimplifications.
Regards