No casualties were reported initially although officials have said the blaze which could get out of hand unless controlled immediately as the depot is used to store kerosene, petrol, diesel and light diesel oil.

An IOC spokesman told the Times of India that everything possible is being done to prevent any more tanks exploding: “Besides trying to douse the flames, personnel [are] also trying to pump out oil from the tank. Since the flame is confined to the surface, we are siphoning out petrol through a pipe at the bottom to another tank,” added the informant.

About 50 fire trucks from Asansol and Durgapur, from both state fire departments and from various industrial units, are already on the scene.