Six Others Remain Under Treatment After Thursday’s Explosion
Key Points:
- Operator Murli Patro succumbs to burn injuries at TMH
- Seven workers were injured in the Gloria Engineering blast
- Cause of cylinder explosion yet to be established, police say
SERAIKELA – A worker who suffered severe burns in Thursday’s cylinder explosion at Gloria Engineering Company in the Adityapur industrial area has died during treatment. Murli Patro, 30, son of late Tarini Patro and a resident of Basurda village under Gamharia police station, was among seven workers injured in the blast.
Patro was employed as an operator at the company and was severely burnt in the explosion. He was rushed to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) along with the other injured workers, but succumbed to his injuries despite doctors’ efforts.
Three of the other injured workers, Suraj Hansda, Sonmuni Das and Anil Yadav, continue to receive treatment at TMH. Meanwhile, three more, Shailendra Mahto, Ankit Kumar and Prakash Bodra, are being treated at the local Sanjeevani Nursing Home. Doctors are monitoring all the injured.
A pall of grief and concern has settled over the industrial area following the incident. According to preliminary information, the explosion was caused by a cylinder blast, though the exact reason behind it, whether a technical fault, a gas leak or some other cause, has not yet been determined. Police and the concerned departments are investigating the matter.
Local police reached the spot soon after the incident and inspected the site. They have also begun gathering details from the factory management regarding the circumstances of the blast. Besides this, investigators are examining whether safety norms were being followed at the unit.
However, the factory management’s silence and its reluctance to speak to the media in the hours since the incident have raised several questions. No official statement had been issued by the company even several hours after the blast, fuelling discussions over the safety arrangements and the actual circumstances of the accident.
Police said the real cause of the incident would be revealed once the investigation report is submitted. They added that if any negligence comes to light during the probe, further legal action would be taken as per rules.
