MANGALURU, 12 JULY

Two field operators of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) died following a suspected leak of hazardous vapours atop a storage tank in the Oil Movement Area of the facility on Saturday morning, officials said.

According to MRPL officials, the experienced operators - Deep Chandra Bhartiya, 33, was a native of Prayagraj, and Bijil Prasad, 33, was from Kerala-- had climbed the platform of a tank around 8am to check a suspected level malfunction.

Later, both were found unconscious on the tank roof and were shifted to the company's first aid unit before being moved to a nearby hospital. However, they died.

A third operator, Vinayak Myageri, who attempted to rescue the duo, has been hospitalised and is reported to be in stable condition, the officials said.

A case will be registered based on statements from the victims’ families or relatives, said Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy.

The leakage has since been sealed by MRPL’s fire and safety team, who have declared the area safe.

MRPL has constituted a high-level committee comprising Group General Managers to investigate the incident.

The cause of the incident is yet to be officially determined, pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.