The place in MRPL’s Oil Movement area in Mangaluru where two MRPL staff members succumbed for suspected inhaling of H2S gas while checking a tank in the area. Photo: Dakshina Kannada district administration
Two workers of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., (MRPL) succumbed after they became unconscious while carrying out work at the MRPL’s Oil Movement Area (OMS) on Saturday (July 12, 20250 morning.
MRPL gave names the deceased as field operators Deep Chandra Bhartiya (33) of Prayagraj and Bijil Prasad (33) of Kerala. Field Operator Vinayak Myageri of Gadag district, who went to rescue his two colleagues, was out of danger.
In an official statement MRPL said, Bhartiya and Prasad, the two experienced field operators in Oil Movement Area, went to the top of tank platform around 8 a.m. for checking suspected level malfunction of the tank in the OMS area of MRPL.
Dakshina Kannada District Additional Deputy Commissioner G. Santosh Kumar led a team of officials from district administration who visited the place in MRPL where two MRPL personnel died on Saturday following suspected inhaling of H2S. Photo: Dakshina Kannada district administration
Bhartiya and Prasad were found unconscious on the Tank Roof platform. They were given first aid and moved to nearby hospital where they succumbed. Third field operator Vinayak Myageri, who went to rescue his colleagues, was stable and under observation in a hospital.
A high level committee of Group General Managers has been constituted to carry out a detailed investigation. Information was being provided to all statutory authorities, the MRPL stated in the press release.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Santhosh Kumar and Mangaluru Tahsildar Prashanth Patil visited MRPL and told officials to enhance safety measures. They also asked the company to pay the maximum permissible compensation to families of victims.
Dakshina Kannada District Additional Deputy Commissioner G. Santosh Kumar speaking to MRPL MD Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath about death of two MRPL staff members after suspected inhaling of H2S inv MRPL OMS area on Friday morning. Photo: Dakshina Kannada district administration
In another statement, the Mangaluru police said deceased appear to have inhaled H2S gas following minor H2S gas leakage. The two happened to inhale the gas while checking leakage as part of their regular duty.
The MRPL Fire and Safety personnel have fixed the leakage and the area was clear now. A case will be registered based on statements of relatives/family members of victims, the police stated.
Published – July 12, 2025 03:05 pm IST
