The toll in Friday’s blast at the HPCL’s Visakh Refinery went up to four with three more persons succumbing to their burn injuries on Saturday.
According to an official statement, three of the 39 injured who were undergoing treatment in different hospitals in the city succumbed to their burn injuries. They have been identified as A. Apparao, A. Srinivasa Rao and Manojeet Pradhan. An employee of HPCL C.H. Murali died on the accident spot, the official statement added.
On Friday evening one of the cells of the Salt Water Cooling Tower of the Refinery was being commissioned. During the opening of the water line at around 16:30 hrs, there was a minor explosion and fire. The cooling tower collapsed. Due to the fire, workers in other cells also sustained burn injuries. The fire was put off with the help of fire tenders from Navy and other neighbouring establishments.
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With some workers reported missing, the administration continued clearing of the basin to identify any casualties.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi rushed to Visakhapatnam on Saturday and visited the fire victims.