Following the recent accident at a petrol bunk in Saidapet here, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has begun checking canopies (roofs) that were installed before 2018. One person was killed when the canopy of Aswini Oil Agency, a fuel outlet on East Jones Road, came crashing down in September during the heavy rain because of waterlogging on its roof.
“The checks are being conducted at retail fuel outlets across the country. We are checking factors such as signs of rust, stability, and damage, including the possibility of leaks. Canopies that are damaged are being removed too. Three such canopies in the city have been removed and some repairs are also being carried out wherever necessary,” said a senior official of IOCL.
Canopies in fuel outlets are made of tin sheets and aluminium and aren’t very heavy. They are fixed on concrete pillars. Rainwater that falls on the canopies drains through chutes and pipes to rainwater harvesting facilities. However, at the bunk at Saidapet, the chutes had become clogged with dry leaves and garbage.
