India, July 2 -- A major disaster was averted on Tuesday evening at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited's (IOCL) bottling plant in Budge Budge, South 24 Parganas near Kolkata, when protestors began releasing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from several cylinders amid a clash over wage-related issues.

"It could have been a disaster had anyone lit a matchstick. Protestors were pressing the nozzles of LPG cylinders to release the highly inflammable gas, which was spreading everywhere and we could smell it. People were carrying LPG cylinders on their shoulders and walking while releasing the LPG," a police official who was present at the spot said.

According to a senior IOCL official, around 45,000-50,000 LPG cylinders are refilled at the plan...