Two workers died and 13 others sustained injuries following an explosion on the premises of Gulf Oil Corporation Limited company, which makes detonators, at Kukatpally on Monday.
The explosion occurred while trying to dispose off rejected detonators at an open place adjacent to a shed, the police said. Ten of the injured persons were admitted to Apollo hospital, Jubilee Hills. Four of them, Surender Reddy, 24, Abdul Saleem, 59, Krishna Swamy, 59, and Muthyal Rao, 56, whose condition was critical as they suffered more than 36 per cent burns in the blast, were shifted to Apollo DRDO hospital.
Two others were initially treated at Anupama hospital in Kukatpally. The blast was reported around 4.30 p.m. “Fourteen persons unloaded bundles of detonators which were either expired, not upto the quality standards from a vehicle akin to DCM van. Apparently, they were deactivating the detonators when suddenly the blast occurred,” a police officer, who examined the spot told The Hindu. He declined to be identified.
Death was instant for two workers. The injured were rushed to hospitals. The van got damaged in the explosion. Metal roof sheets of the shed blew off while the wall collapsed due to the blast impact. Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy and Cyberabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand examined the blast site. CLUES team collected samples of the blast remnants from the explosion site to anaylse reasons behind the explosion.
A case of rash and negligent act resulting in death under section 304-A of Indian Penal Code was registered. Incidentally, explosions were reported at this factory known as ‘IDL’ earlier, while 11 persons died in a blast in 2003, two lost lives in 2013.
Meanwhile, TS Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy said that Gulf Oil has agreed to pay Rs.15 lakh compensation to the deceased families and take care of the hospital expenses of the injured. Mr. Reddy also held talks with the firm management. He also stated that the Government will take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur.
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