The fire still burns
+ On August 8, 2011, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) contractor KMC Constructions Ltd allegedly ruptured a portion of the 11-km-long naphtha pipeline that runs from Mormugao Harbour to Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Limited (ZIOTL) in Sancoale (alongside the NH17B four lane stretches). Instead of informing ZIOL about the damages, workers at the site closed the ruptured area by applying cement over the punctured area.
+ On August 19, at around 8 pm while naphtha was being transferred from a ship through the pipeline to Zuari Industries Limited (ZIL) it seeped out from ruptured pipe located between Varunapuri to Naval Family gate.
+ Leaked naphtha exploded when a bhelpuri vendor operating near family gate at Varunapuri lit his stove. His helper Kuyaram Hiragir, a native of Rajasthan besides a couple from navy personnel sustained serious injuries and later all three succumbed to burn injuries.
+ State disaster management team began evacuating people and around 200 families were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
+ By 2.00 am, the fire along the pipeline was doused, but no one knew that leaked naphtha would seep underground and into a nearby nullah.
+ Leaked naphtha in the water turned into flames when someone lit a fire in which brothers Deepesh Digambar Palyekar (15) and Shivam Digambar Palyekar (12) were killed, while their cousin Tejas Palyekar and another friend Navin Varadi sustained burn injuries.
+ All of Dactollem hillside was hit by the fire and the absence of access roads to the valley put hurdles in the way of the rescue operation.
+ Vasco Police on August 23, 2011, registered an offence against officials of ZIOTL, KMC Construction and the NHAI for negligence and held them responsible for endangering human life and for damaging property and vegetation.
+ Officers, including then ZIOTL terminal manager Bhaskar Rejith, chief executive officer Debashish Bhattacharya, vice-president Esteves and safety officer Valencio and KMC Construction project manager S Rao were booked.
+ Case is still on in a South Goa court while the accused contractor remains absconding and has reportedly taken shelter abroad.
+ Levinson Martins, Deputy Collector, SDM, Mormugao, conducted an inquiry blaming Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Limited and National Highway Authority of India for negligence.
+ A magisterial inquiry was ordered by then chief minister Digambar Kamat.
+ Upset citizens demanded closure of the pipeline and construction of a road, temporary rehabilitation of affected people within a radius of three kilometers of Dactollem, and direct distribution of funds to the victims. Residents also demanded that owners of houses destroyed in the fire be paid immediate relief of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
+ ZIOTL spent nearly Rs 5 crore towards treatment of the injured, compensation to the victims and reconstruction of structures.
+ Later ZIOTL filed a claim petition (loss of business/compensation paid to victims) against NHAI. The case is still going on.
