Mangaluru: One contract worker was charred to death and 12 others sustained injuries following a fire and a blast at a processing unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), 20km from here, around Wednesday noon.The explosion around 12.20pm sent out a loud boom that was heard in areas 10-12km away, with thick black smoke billowing from the plant and triggering panic in coastal suburbs. The impact of the blast was also felt at Mangaluru airport and areas, including Jokatte and Surathkal.Mangaluru City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said Manish Karkada, 23, from Mulki, was reported missing from the plant soon after the blast. He was found dead hours later during a post-blast inspection and combing operation.Another worker, Rajesh, who suffered 35% burns, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. He is reported to be out of danger. Eleven others sustained minor injuries.According to a complaint filed with Surathkal police, the incident took place when the Coker Hydrotreater Unit suddenly exploded. Machinery and components were reportedly blown apart, while flames spread through the surrounding area.MRPL’s emergency response and firefighting teams, along with fire tenders from Mangaluru, brought the fire under control at 2.47pm. Those staying in the outer fringes of Mangaluru claimed their houses shook, doors and windows rattled in the impact of the explosion.Surathkal police have registered an FIR, which names the head of the affected unit and the chief of MRPL as accused.The FIR is based on a complaint by Ravi Poojary, 53, an employee of K Star Food and Hospitality Services, which supplies food, refreshments and drinking water to workers at MRPL’s Phase III facility. Poojary is among the injured.Rudolph VJ Noronha, chief general manager (corporate branding and corporate communications), MPRL, said the incident involved rupture of a cold separator operating at high pressure at MRPL, resulting in the fire. The battery limits of the affected unit were immediately isolated.He said the situation is being closely monitored, with safety of personnel and the facility being accorded the highest priority. There is absolutely no reason to panic for individuals within and outside MRPL premises and there has been no impact on the operations.Following advice from district administration, the Mangaluru airport conducted visual inspection of all vital installations in and around the airport, including the precision approach lighting category 1 systems and peripheral roads for their operational readiness.
