Factories and Boilers Director Visits Sagar Bhushan

KOCHI:
Further to the information provided by the CMD, CSL in the interactions with the press and the press release issued by the company on 13 Feb 18, the following updates on the accident that occurred on board MODU Sagar Bhushan is provided.
The Director, Factories & Boilers has visited the spot and recorded his observations. As per the preliminary assessment, the accident has been caused by a momentary explosion of high impact that has occurred near the A/C plant, which is situated above the Ballast Tank. The probable location of the explosion was identified based on the nature of the deflections on the bulkheads (Steel walls) and the damage extant observed during the inspection.
The site of the accident has been cordoned off and is being investigated by the forensic department of the Police Department. The company clarified that the source of gas leakage and reason for the explosion is yet to be confirmed and the same would be clarified only after the internal enquiry ordered by the company is completed.
The accident is observed to have happened near the A/C plant, when the area was being inspected by CSL Fire and Safety personnel prior to issuing work permit for starting of the work.
Pon Radhakrishnan, Minister of State (Finance & Shipping) visited the accident site on 14 Feb 18. The Minister also had an interaction with the Management, site team, employees, Trade union leaders, Fire & Safety Team, and Medical Team.
Subsequently, the Minister visited following injured personnel and interacted with their family members and attending doctors at Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi.
CSL had declared Rs. 10 Lakhs to the family of the deceased in addition to other statutory benefits as applicable, Rs. 25,000 disbursed as immediate incidental expenses to the family of deceased, provide best medical care and meet all hospital / treatment expenses for the injured.
After the review and interactions, the Minister directed CSL to extend additional assistance to the affected including amount equivalent to 2 months wages to be disbursed immediately, employment as appropriate based on qualification to 1 (one) immediate dependent family member of each deceased,
appropriate education assistance for children of deceased up to completion of degree level education and in addition to the statutory compensation relief, Company to disburse wages to the injured till he returns for work.