HYDERABAD:Two labourers died and 10 others were injured, some of them seriously, in a massive explosion in one of the units of Gulf Oil Corporation Limited, formerly known as Indian Detonators Limited (IDL), at Kukatpally here on Monday.
The blast and subsequent fire occurred around 3.30 pm when 16 workers were disposing of some outdated detonators stored in a unit in the explosives division.
While the dead were identified as Sravan and Amar, the injured are Surender Reddy (24), Abdul Saleem (59), Krishna Swamy (59), Purushotham (30), Lakshman (28), M Raju (35), Mallesh (48), Mutyal Rao (56), Ramulu (40) and B Prakash (25).
A senior police official said the explosion and subsequent fire occurred when some detonators were being disposed of. An accidental spark must have caused the blast, after which the entire unit was engulfed in blaze. S.Ranganath, who lives in the neighbourhood, told Express: “The sound from the explosions was deafening. I rushed out of my home and saw some panic-stricken persons running into the factory through main gate.”
Tension prevailed for some time after worried members of the victims’ families gathered in front of main gate and fumed at the security guards for not allowing them inside as they were anxious to know the condition of the injured. “I reached the place after hearing the news on TV. My husband Prabhakar works there but I don’t know in which unit he works. Guards did not allow me inside to meet my husband and were unwilling to reveal his condition either,” a teary-eyed Padma said.
It was the fifth mishap that took place in Gulf Oil Corporation since 2003 when a major blast claimed seven lives.
IDL Industries Limited was renamed as Gulf Oil Corporation Limited with the merger of Gulf Oil India’s business. The corporation is engaged in manufacturing, marketing and technical services in industrial explosives, detonators, explosive bonded metal clads and special devices for defence and space applications among others.
Blasts in past
April 26, 2013: Two workers died and one was injured
2011: Two workers died.
Nov 25, 2003: Seven died and 5 were injured.