An April 9 fire damaged an Ahmedabad, India, depot owned by a distributor of Tide Water Oil Co., burning approximately Rs 13.5 million (U.S. $212,000) worth of Veedol-branded lubricants.
United Oil Distributors Gujarat Private Ltd., a distributor of Veedol lubricants based in Ahmedabad, said a short circuit sparked a fire at around 9:30 p.m. that night, burning a total of around 1 million liters of Tide Waters lubricants and 20,000 liters of its grease.
No one was injured in the fire, and Danapith, Ahmedabad, fire department officials told Lube Report Asia that the fire brigade quickly responded and controlled the fire.
Kolkata-based Tide Water has lodged a claim with its insurance company for the damages to its products; its entire stock at the depot is covered, Manging Director R.N. Ghosal told Lube Report Asia.
However, depot owner Dayabhai Patel told Lube Report Asia that apart from the damaged Tide Water stock, around Rs 6.5 million worth of his own uninsured stock of lubricants was destroyed in the fire as well. Patel said the fire also destroyed approximately Rs 60 million worth of furniture, electrical equipment and other uninsured personal belongings.
Ghosal said the company has begun distributing from its other depots, such as one in Gujarat, to ensure regular suppy to its customers.