INDIA – Thermic Fluid Heater Failure Triggers Deadly Blaze at Edayar Plant
A tragic fire at the Cee Jee Lubricants plant in the Edayar Industrial Area near Pathalam on Thursday morning claimed the life of a long-time employee and left three others with minor burn injuries. The blaze broke out around 9:30 a.m. and spread rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable oils and chemicals stored within the unit.
Victim and Immediate Events
The deceased worker, Shathruknan Mukhia, 45, from Bihar, had been employed at the oil purification firm for over 15 years. Around 30 workers were inside the facility when the fire ignited. While most managed to flee, Mukhia reportedly remained behind in an attempt to shut down a safety valve and stabilise the control panel.
According to Eloor fire station officer V. S. Renjith Kumar, “He took a high risk, but the flames and leaking oil suddenly engulfed him.”
Witnesses recalled hearing a loud explosion just before thick black smoke began emerging from the steel-framed building.
Emergency Response
Fire and rescue units from across Ernakulam district—including Eloor, Aluva, Kochi, and FACT—were dispatched to the scene. Authorities quickly cordoned off the industrial area and evacuated employees from neighbouring factories to prevent further casualties.
It took ten fire brigade units from nine stations roughly 90 minutes to bring the blaze under control, according to Kumar.
Preliminary Investigation
A high-level team from the Factories and Boilers Department, led by director P. Pramod, inspected the site shortly after the incident. Initial findings point to a leakage in the thermic fluid heater used for waste-oil purification. A suspected crack in the coil appears to have caused a pressure buildup, leading to fluid leakage.
“The safety valve released automatically, but burning oil escaped from it and fell onto the worker who returned to manage the control panel,” Pramod explained. He added that further investigation is ongoing.
Officials noted that the proper functioning of the safety valve likely prevented a major explosion that could have impacted surrounding companies. The thermic fluid heater in question is 17 years old.
Safety and Compliance Concerns
Under existing regulations, a complete maintenance check of the machinery is required every two years. Investigators stated that the company had not produced documentation confirming compliance with this requirement.
The facility was also found to be inadequately equipped for emergencies, with only a single fire extinguisher available on site.
However, ESSIA president V. Narendra Kumar said the company had recently carried out a machinery overhaul.
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