Factory worker killed in compressor unit blast

A 28-year-old employee died and his colleague was injured when an air compressor exploded at a manufacturing unit in Peenya Industrial Area, 4th Phase, on Friday.

According to the police, the deceased, Manjunath, and the injured, Guruswamy (45), worked for Galavano Casting Private Limited. Both of them are natives of Ballari and resided in Rajagopala Nagar. Manjunath was with the company for the last two years and Guruswamy was with them for the last 20 years.

On Friday, around 3 pm, Manjunath and Guruswamy were working near a dryer, which was connected to the compressor unit that exploded. Manjunath and Guruswamy suffered severe burn injuries. Other employees heard the  explosion and rushed the duo to a nearby hospital, where Manjunath was declared brought dead and Guruswamy was shifted to St John’s Hospital. Guruswamy is under observation and is said to be in a critical condition, said the police.

The unit owner, Krishnamurthy, is being questioned. An inspection is on to check for any negligence at the unit and the cause of the explosion is also being looked into.