A worker was killed and three others injured as an industrial boiler burst at a firm which smelted rubber for oil at the Kakkalur SIDCO Industrial Estate here today.
"It is suspected that the boiler's door opened due to over pressure. When the door began to slide outward, a worker tried to tighten the bolts and he got killed," M Subramanian, Assistant District Officer, Fire and Rescue Services, Tiruvallur told PTI.
"The huge pressure pushed out the rubber material smelted inside the boiler. The heat was over 300 degree Celsius. The smelted rubber in semi-liquid form with such a high degree of heat poured over the worker," he said, adding that three other workers were injured.
Soon, this led to a fire in the unit which had several tons of stock of tyres. As tyres began burning, it led to clouds of black smoke and soot in the area.
"Even trees upto a distance of about 120 feet were affected," he said.
Three fire tenders including a quick response vehicle were deployed to put out the fire.
"It took about one hour for us to put out the fire. Foam was used as fire was triggered by a mixture that includes some chemicals and oil," he said.
Police have detained the owner of the unit and two others who were said to be responsible for the operation of the unit at the time of the mishap.
"We are seeing if there is negligence on part of these persons and if materials prima facie support negligence or any other crime, appropriate action will be taken," a police official said.
