In Karnataka, a blast at the Coker Hydrotreater Unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has claimed one life and injured eight people. The explosion caused a loud boom and rattled windows at the nearby Mangaluru International Airport.
Of the eight injured, one sustained around 35 per cent burn injuries and is reported to be out of danger. The remaining seven were given first aid and discharged from the hospital. Fire tenders were rushed to the site, and the fire was brought under control later in the afternoon. The blast caused several nearby buildings to shake, with some windows and roof tiles reportedly shattered.
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the fire has been brought under control and there was no major cause for concern. A spokesperson for Mangaluru Airport said there was no damage to airport infrastructure or glass panes, although buildings in the area shook following the blast. In a statement, the refinery said the blast occurred following a rupture in a high-pressure cold separator operating in the Coker Hydrotreater unit. The refinery said, the fire had been brought under control and urged people not to panic.
