Explosion at MRPL site kills one

Mangalore - 18 Oct 2011: A worker was killed and at least three others injured, one of them critically, when paint caught fire at a construction site of the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) on Tuesday morning.

A group of workers was applying paint to a huge over-ground crude oil tank as part of the third phase expansion of MRPL, according to M.R. Zhadke, site in-charge of Offshore Infrastructure Ltd., which is building three tankers for MRPL at the site. He toldThe Hinduthat a spark from nearby "cutting work" led to the accident.

The site is within a radius of one km from the main refinery. The tank under construction is near the main entrance of MRPL in Bala village near here.

Mediapersons were not allowed to take a close look inside the tank, apparently made of metal, stating there is no safety clearance to do so.

The deceased has been identifed as Munna Kumar from Bihar. One of the injured, Rahim of Bidar district has been admitted to A.J. Hospital with severe burn injuries. Doctors described his condition as serious.

The Hindu