E-Paper
One killed, one hurt in blast at PACL plant in Nangal
The blast took place in water condenser tank
One person was killed and another seriously injured following a blast in a water condenser tank at the Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL) plant here on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Rajinder Kumar, 55, a welder, who hails from Bharolia village of Una district in Himachal Pradesh. The injured has been identified as Ajay Kumar, 26, a trainee at the plant, who is a resident of Bhalri village near Nangal. Ajay was admitted to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) hospital, Nangal. He is a resident of Bhalri village near Nangal.
The blast took place around 12.45 pm when Rajinder and Ajay were preparing to start welding work on the water condenser tank and were cutting the nuts of the tank. After the blast, a fire broke out at the site. Fire tenders of the BBMB, National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) and the municipal council, Nangal, controlled the fire.
According to eyewitnesses, the blast was so powerful that the head of the deceased fell 150 ft away from the site of the incident. The blast led to a panic at the plant.
PACL deputy general manager MPS Walia said all precautionary measures were taken before starting the welding work on the tank and said that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident to ascertain the reason behind it. He said all safety norms were being strictly followed in the plant .
Walia said compensation would be provided to the family of the deceased as per the company norms.
Notably, the state-owned PACL plant produces hydrocloric acid, chlorine gas and caustic soda.
