One killed, four injured in blast at MRPL

Mangalore, October 18: A worker was killed and four others injured when a blast ripped through a crude oil storage tank of Phase III of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, where they were working.

The blast occurred around 11: 30 am at the huge tank at Bala area, when around two dozens of labourers were busy in welding, painting and other works, it is learnt.

19-year-old Munna from Orissa, who was carrying out welding work at the unit, died on the spot, while 22-year old Rahim from Bidar district sustained more than 90% burn injuries. He was busy in painting work in the same unit during the blast.

Pappu Mahto from West Bengal, Uday Kumar (26) from Bihar and Bheemanna (32) too sustained injuries. Bheemanna is admitted to MRPL Hospital.

A worker at the site revealed that the grinding work (smoothening of the tank surface) was going on and some painting work was being done nearby. Suddenly, there was a huge blast inside the tank. Munna died on the spot and Raheem sustained third degree burns, he said.

Residents said they heard a deafening sound near the cargo gate, about 1.5 km from the spot, and a pungent smell hung in the air.

However, A R Jhelki, in charge of the work site, denied there was a blast at the work site. He said the accident occurred after a spark from the grinding machine fell on paint spilled on the floor. It caught fire instantly, engulfing two and injuring two, he said.

Surprisingly, MRPL officials said nothing about an injured Bheemanna. A few workers later hesitantly informed media persons that five workers, not four, were injured in the mishap.

The workers have been working in Mangalore under Offshore Construction Company since the last one and half years.

Meanwhile, the MRPL management has remained tight-lipped about the entire episode which the local residents see as a precursor to a possible larger mishap.

Calling it a “consequence of breakdown in safety”, a resident said Tuesday's blast was the third in Phase III of MRPL in the last two-three months.

“The principal employer (MRPL) is in a hurry to commission Phase III. These incidents are to be blamed on laxity in safety,” said another resident. He said a water tank had recently collapsed at the contract labourer colony outside the refinery.