Four killed, 46 injured in an explosion at IPCL plant

Mumbai, June 6 : At least four people were killed and 46 injured in an explosion inside the Reliance-owned Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) plant at Raigad district of Maharashtra's Nagothane town on Friday.

"One worker died on the spot and three others died on their way to thehospital. All the injured have been hospitalised with burn injuries," Raigad Collector Ramesh Survade said.

The explosion occurred due to a fire in the plant where around 205 maintenance workers were present, he added.

The contact of hydrocarbon and welding gas in the plant caused the accident, which was shut for maintenance on Thursday.

The three persons who lost their lives are Suresh Padvakar, Prasad Vakde (company employees) and R Shingade, a contract worker. The fourth deceased is yet to be identified.

"The petrochemical manufacturing facility was sealed after the accident," Survade said adding that the death toll may rise further.

Twenty-five workers have been admitted to the Harkisondas Hospital in Central Mumbai, while 17 were admitted to Ambani hospital in Lodhivali and four in the rural hospital at Nagathone.

Meanwhile, a release from the IPCL said that the accident occurred at approximately 11:20 am in a part of the LLDPE plant (no.2) in the company.

The company has ordered investigations to determine the exact cause of the incident.

ANI