Mangaluru: Two senior field operators at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) lost their lives following exposure to hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) gas during an early morning inspection on Saturday.
The victims, identified as Deep Chandra from Prayagraj and Bijil Prasad from Kerala, both aged 33, reportedly succumbed to the toxic fumes after ascending a tank platform to examine an issue with the level gauge in tank FB7029 A, designated for dry slop with a floating roof.
According to a company press release, the incident unfolded around 8 a.m. in the Oil Movement Section (OMS). The two workers, despite wearing protective gear, were found unresponsive atop the tank. They were immediately moved to First Aid and later transferred to a local hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Another employee, Vinayak Myageri, who attempted to save his colleagues by climbing the same platform, was also exposed to the gas. He has been admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru and is currently in stable condition under medical observation.
In response, MRPL has established a high-level inquiry panel made up of Group General Managers to thoroughly examine the cause of the leak. All mandatory authorities have been informed of the incident.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy confirmed the leak was swiftly contained by the MRPL emergency team. A police case will be filed based on the statements provided by the deceased workers’ families.