The residents in Southwest Delhi’s Kakrola area got a panic attack when a loud explosion was heard in a tunnel nearby. The tunnel was dug by thieves to steal oil from an underground Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) pipeline. The thieves allegedly tried to steal oil from the pipeline transporting petroleum products from Sonepat to Bijwasan. The Delhi Police stated the concentration of gases inside the pipeline led to an explosion.
It is said no one was injured in the accident but the explosion blew the cover of a group of men trying to steal oil. Police said the group took the plot on rent five months ago to use it as a scrapyard. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka division) Shibesh Singh said they received a call around 8:30 P.M., about an explosion near Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology.
When the police team searched the plot, they uncovered a 150 foot long and 2.5 foot wide tunnel dug inside the room. The hole was allegedly being used by the tenants to steal oil. One of the accused Zubair was arrested by the Delhi police after identifying him with the help of the landlord. Zubair stated he was working with four others. The police are questioning Zubair and they further suspected more people might be involved.
Zubair said they took the plot on rent five months ago and dug the tunnel during this period. A Police Officer said, “Zubair told us that he had just finished drilling up a hole in the pipeline with the help of gas cutter. They then covered the opening in the room with a lid and placed some bricks and a sofa on it. On Tuesday evening, they removed the sofa and moved out and soon after the blast took place.”
Shibesh Singh said, “The IOCL pipeline is used to transport all kinds of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and aviation fuel. We are trying to find out who was Zubair planning to sell the fuel too. A case under relevant provisions of law has been registered and the landlord has also been booked for not carrying out a tenant verification of Zubair.”
The investigators stated the gases leaked from the pipeline and accumulated in the covered tunnel. When the accumulated gases were released at a high pressure, the explosion occurred. An investigator said, “There was no combustion of fuel. Prima facie, the cover and weight on top of it had blocked the escape route of the gases leaking from the pipeline.”
Police also found a truck with large overhead water tankers with some fuel. Police further suspect Zubair and his accomplice may have transported oil in the past. Zubair claimed they did not start selling the fuel yet. IOCL commenced the repair works of the pipeline.
