HPCL has flown doctors from its headquarters in Mumbai to monitor the progress of treatment rendered to patients at various corporate hospitals in the city. A company release said on Sunday they had also positioned their officials at all the hospitals where workers injured in refinery blast were undergoing treatment. More specialists, if required, will be brought to the city.
One patient, P. Venkat Rao of Gopal Engineering, had been airlifted in the evening and others would be taken to Mumbai based on doctor’s advice for better treatment. HPCL officials were in touch with the contractors, the injured and their family members and were providing all assistance as required from time to time.
Debris clearance
After detailed inspection and thorough search, cleaning operations and debris removal in the cooling tower had commenced at all the cells of the cooling tower.
According to the release, there have been eight casualties. A company officer died on the spot, a contract worker succumbed to injuries at the hospital and six bodies were recovered from the debris during clean up on Saturday. The release said 38 contract workmen were undergoing treatment at various corporate hospitals.
Referring to the announcement made by Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily, the release said Rs..20 lakh shall be paid to the next kin of the deceased by the HPCL. HPCL is also working on a best possible compensation considering all aspects of the injured, in case of total permanent disablement or partial disablement, based on the doctor’s advice. HPCL has appointed a five-member Internal Investigation Team from its headquarters.
Tearful farewell
Hundreds of people bid a tearful farewell on Sunday to Ch. Murali, an officer in HPCL who died in the cooling tower blast two days ago.
The funeral was performed at Gopalapatnam. A busload of tribals from his native place Munchingput and several employees of Visakhapatnam Port, where Murali’s wife Jayalakshmi works, participated.
HPCL Executive Director and refinery in-charge V.V.R. Narasimham, who attended the funeral along with a team of senior officials, described Murali as a brave and committed executive. He had worked in the company for over 20 years.
Among others, CPI (M) State executive member Ch. Narsinga Rao, Adivasi Reservation Porata Samiti State president R.S. Dora, AP Girijana Sangham district president V. Tirupati Rao, HPCL Employees’ Union general secretary Satyanarayana and others were present.
