CHENNAI: In a tragic incident that occurred early Thursday morning, a 45-year-old welder lost his life in a devastating cylinder blast on a ship docked near Chennai Port. The unfortunate incident also left three other workers injured.

Oil Tanker Explosion Claims Life of Welder

The ill-fated ship, an oil tanker that had recently arrived from Odisha, was undergoing repair work when the incident took place. The deceased welder, identified as Sahayam, hailed from Tondiarpet. His fellow workers, C Joshua from Kasimedu, J Rajesh from Tondiarpet, and S Pushpalingam from Kasimedu, were rushed to Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) hospital for treatment.

Sparks Ignite Oil Residue, Causing Devastating Blast

Preliminary investigations conducted by authorities have revealed that the explosion occurred when sparks from a gas-cutting machine accidentally ignited the oil residue present on the ship. The resulting blast was catastrophic, leading to the loss of one life and leaving three others injured.

Workers Employed by Chennai-based Private Firm

All four workers involved in the incident were employed through a private firm based in Chennai. The firm had contracted them to provide their services for the repair work being carried out on the oil tanker. The Harbour police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to this tragic accident.