3 die in Mangalore oil unit blast

DHNS

Mangalore, 27 May 2011: Three persons, including a Korean mining expert, were killed and four suffered injuries in a blast at the construction site of the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) at Surathkal near here on Thursday evening.

 

 

An ISPRL official said those who were killed have been identified as Song (36), a mining expert from South Korea; Sirajuddin (25), a safety officer hailing from Katipalla; and Shivnath (40), a labourer.

 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ISPRL Chief Manager Vijayanand said the blast occurred when explosive experts were trying to defuse unexploded detonators at the tunnel construction site of the oil reserve. Four others who suffered injuries - Lawrence from Katipalla, Vikram Jyothidas from Assam, Sheikh Ghani from Kateel and Srinath from Utter Pradesh are said to be out of danger.

 

The foundation for the construction of oil reserve near Surathkal was laid in May 2009 and it can store 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil when completed. The other two oil reserves of India are in Padur near Udupi and at Vishakapatnam.

 

These oil reserves can store 5 million tonnes of crude oil for 14 days in case of emergency. The facility in Mangalore is among the three strategic crude oil storages proposed to be set up by the government of India ensure energy security.