3 fatalities due to gas leak at Haldia

02-Jun-09

A supervisor and two contract labourers are dead due to an unexplained gas leak at Haldia Petrochemicals naphtha cracker unit under maintenance since May 8. Most of the maintenance work being carried out inside the chamber was related to welding. It is suspected that instead of normal air, helium or nitrogen was released inside the chamber before the three workers moved in. Operational lapses could be the possible cause behind the loss of lives. Workers on the first shift had left the chamber vessel number 304, which is used to mix gases gases like helium, nitrogen and ethylene around 8.30 pm on Saturday, after which the three entered the for the second shift. Dinner served to them around 10.30 pm was untouched. Their deaths were discovered around 4.30 am by workers on the next shift. A detailed inquiry is in progress and HPL confirms that contrary to some reports, there is no gas emission in the plant.