Kozhikode native among two killed in gas leak tragedy in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: A Kozhikode native was among the two people killed after inhaling toxic gas in a major tragedy at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL). Bijil Prasad (33), a native of Kozhikode, and Deep Chandra (33), a native of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, died in the tragedy. Another person is undergoing treatment. The drastic incident took place today morning.

Bijil Prasad and Deep Chandra had gone to check the tank at the refinery on Saturday morning. They were later found unconscious. Despite providing primary treatment and rushing to the hospital, their lives could not be saved. Seeing them unconscious, Gadag native Vinayak Mageri, who got into the tank to save them, also became unconscious. He was admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru.

MRPL Chief General Manager Dr. Rudolf VJ Noronha formed a high-level committee comprising group general managers to investigate the incident. Mangaluru Police concluded that it was a minor leak of hydrogen sulphide which led to the tragedy. An investigation is underway to find out the exact cause of the gas leak.