1 Killed, 9 Injured In Major Blast At MRPL Plant In Mangaluru; Nearby Areas Feel Tremors

On September 30, a devastating explosion occurred at the MRPL plant in Jokatte, Mangaluru, resulting in one fatality and nine injuries. The deceased worker, Manish, aged 30, succumbed to his injuries, while the injured were treated at Srinivasa and MRPL hospitals. Eight individuals were hurt due to the blast followed by a fire in the hydro sulphur treatment unit. One injured worker, Rajesh, was transported to Srinivasa Hospital and is now out of danger.

The blast's force was so intense that tremors were felt up to 15 kilometers away from the site. In the surrounding villages of Jokatte, Kavoor, Surathkal, and Panambur, numerous buildings, including houses, schools, and places of worship, sustained damage with cracks appearing in their structures and shattered window panes. Thick smoke and a massive fire were visible from a considerable distance, prompting firefighters and ambulances to respond swiftly to the MRPL unit.

Upon visiting the scene, local MLA Bharat Shetty emphasized the narrow escape from a potentially catastrophic situation. He noted that the blast occurred at around 12.15 pm, during the transition between the first and second shifts, when most first shift workers had left and second shift workers were not yet present. Approximately ten workers were inside the plant at the time of the explosion, and the remaining employees avoided injury.

Typically, more than a hundred workers would be present near the boiler in Unit 3, where the Nitro Sulphate treatment boiler is located.