19 AUGUST 2011
5 dead as naphtha pipeline explodes at Sancoale
Five persons were killed, while many others were injured when a naphtha pipeline from Mormugao Harbour to Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Limited (ZIOTL) in Sancoale burst into huge flames at Varunapuri-Mangor in Vasco on August 19, 2011.
The naphtha which seeped out from a ruptured pipe located between Varunapuri to Naval Family gate burst into flames when a bhelpuri vendor lit his stove near the gate at Varunapuri. Three persons sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to burn injuries.
About 200 families were later evacuated as a precautionary measure, while dozens of vehicles were gutted in the fire.
A few hours later, a second fire broke out when leaked naphtha, which gushed out of the ruptured pipeline from the inferno at Varunapuri accumulated in a nullah and burst into flames at Dhaktalem-Mangor.
Two minor brothers died of burn injuries while their cousin and another friend sustained burn injuries. Four houses were gutted in the fire while three LPG cylinders burst. Inmates of the 11 houses were evacuated to the Goa Rehabilitation Board colony at Headland Sada, Mormugao, while residents of houses and residential buildings in the vicinity also left their homes as a precautionary measure.
23 FEBRUARY 2013
Two killed in blast at factory in Pissurlem
Two workers were killed while another was seriously injured in a blast at an industry in Pissurlem-Sattari on February 23, 2013.
The blast took place at about 1.15 am while workers were on duty at the factory. A machinery connected to the cooling gas developed a leak and exploded, killing one worker on the spot.
Two other workers were seriously injured and were rushed to the Sanquelim Community Hospital, from where they were shifted to the Goa Medical College Hospital at Bambolim.
The second worker breathed his last while the third was seriously injured.
12 JANUARY 2019
2 killed, 7 injured as boiler explodes at Tuem factory
Two workers were killed and seven others were injured when a boiler exploded at a cement block manufacturing factory at the Tuem Industrial Estate on January 12, 2019.
The incident occurred when the workers were engaged in the factory. The impact of the explosion was such that a large pipe connected to the boiler got blown out of the factory and was flung to some distance at a nearby forested area, damaging two vehicles and the property of another unit in the process.
The cabin of a truck and a car, which were stationed on the factory premises, were destroyed by the pipe which was blown out of the factory.
Machinery in the unit and property outside the unit got damaged as the pipe got blasted out of the factory. The pipe of the boiler was seen lying in a nearby forest area, some distance from the factory.
MAY 3, 2022
3 workers killed in blast at ZACL plant in Zuarinagar
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Three workers were killed in a blast at an empty condenser tank under maintenance in the Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) factory at Zuarinagar on May 3, 2022.
The tank was empty when the incident took place and maintenance works were in progress.
The three workers killed in the blast were not company staff but workers of a contractor engaged with the company.
ZACL had shut down the plant on April 30 and workers engaged by the contractor were removing a nut bolt from the tank, which is around 6 metres in height.
The workers were engaged in bolt-cutting work on top of the tank. While it was recommended to use cold works, they used hot works technology of gas cutting leading to a blast in the tank.
The three workers were flung to a distance after the tank exploded. They were immediately shifted to the hospital but they were declared dead.
