One Killed and Seven Injured in Gummidipoondi Steel Factory Boiler Blast

A 26-year-old worker from Bihar was killed and seven other guest workers suffered severe burn injuries after a furnace boiler exploded early Tuesday at a private steel melting unit in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate in Gummidipoondi, Tiruvallur district.

The explosion, which was triggered by excessive heat during operations, caused a fire to break out at the facility.

The deceased worker was identified as Ravi Ranjan, a 26-year-old native of Bihar. According to the police, the accident occurred at the private steel melting unit when a furnace used to melt copper materials exploded. The powerful blast ripped through the furnace, killing Ranjan on the spot.

During the explosion, molten metal splashed onto seven other guest workers who hailed from northern states, leaving them with serious burn injuries.

Upon receiving information about the incident, personnel from the Gummidipoondi SIPCOT Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the factory. The emergency response team managed to bring the fire that broke out following the explosion under control.

The injured workers were rescued from the site and admitted to multiple hospitals for treatment. Some were taken to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai, while others were admitted to the Government Hospital in Gummidipoondi and nearby private hospitals.

The Gummidipoondi SIPCOT police recovered Ranjan's body and sent it to the Government Hospital in Ponneri for a post-mortem examination. The Gummidipoondi SIPCOT police have registered a case and are currently investigating the cause of the explosion.