Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The tragic boat tank explosion at Vijay Marine Shipyard has claimed a third life, officials confirmed on Saturday/ In connection with the incident, Safety Manager Raju Bora has been arrested on charges of negligence, which allegedly contributed to the deaths of the workers.
Following the explosion, the South Goa Collector has ordered the shipyard to be sealed and has requested a comprehensive report on the circumstances that led to the accident. Three workers have so far lost their lives, while several others remain hospitalized with injuries.
Survivor Surinder Kumar, a daily wage labourer, described the terrifying moment of the blast. “The explosion was extremely loud and threw me about five to six meters, dislocating my right shoulder and causing minor injuries. I was cleaning the vessel while the other injured workers were inside a room. The blast happened around 5.25 pm on Friday. I managed to escape but collapsed shortly after leaving the workshop. I regained consciousness at the South Goa District Hospital,” he said.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident and the shipyard’s safety practices.
According to police, the incident occurred around 5.30 pm when seven labourers engaged in welding work were caught in a sudden blaze inside a confined section of the vessel. The victims were rushed to the South Goa District Hospital, where two were declared brought dead.
Of the five injured workers, four were later shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, after their condition was found to be critical. The remaining worker is undergoing treatment at the district hospital with minor injuries.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (DySP) Margao, Sidhant Shirodkar, said preliminary investigations indicate that the mishap may have been caused by negligence on the part of the safety supervisor. “Prima facie, the lapse appears to have occurred due to failure to ensure adequate safety precautions and functioning of protective equipment. The safety officer acted in a rash and negligent manner by not following proper procedures, which led to the fire during welding,” DySP Shirodkar said.
Police have registered a case at Maina-Curtorim Police Station under Sections 106, 115 and 118 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The deceased and injured have been identified as migrant workers, including Abhishek Kumar (25), Manish Chauhan (27), Santosh Kumar (27), and Mohammed Babloo (27), all hailing from Uttar Pradesh.
Medical Superintendent of South Goa District Hospital, Dr. Rajendra Borkar, confirmed that seven workers were brought to the hospital. “Two were declared brought dead, while four have sustained major burn injuries and were referred to GMC. One has minor burns and is being treated here,” he said.
Following the incident, the Inspector of Factories and Boilers visited the site and directed the shipyard management to immediately halt all operations. The premises were sealed to facilitate investigations, and a bomb disposal squad was called in as a precautionary measure.
South Goa District Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, Egna Cletus, IAS, clarified that the mishap was a fire incident and not an explosion. She said that a preliminary report suggested the vessel had been freshly painted a day earlier, and welding work on Friday may have triggered a chemical reaction causing the blaze.
