Explosion and Fire in HIL

One critically injured and seven others were wounded in a fire following a gas leak at Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) in Kalamassery Industrial Area near Eloor road in Kochi on Wednesday.

A factory official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed it was a gas leak but declined to comment further.

The accident happened when the factory workers were trying to transfer carbon disulfide gas from a tanker to a facility inside the factor. The gas caught fire and exploded causing the accident.

Three fire engines were immediately pressed into service.

The injured were taken to various private hospitals in Kochi and one of them was reportedly in critical condition, police said.

Ernakulam District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla said the situation is under control.

Hindustan Insecticides Limited is a public sector enterprise, and comes under the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers.