Explosion at Gulf Oil Corp in Hyderabad kills 2, injures 13

Two workers died and 13 other workers were injured in an explosion at Gulf Oil Corporation Limited, formerly known as IDL Industries, at its premises at Kukatpally in Hyderabad this evening.

The accident occurred while the workers at Gulf Oil Corporation's explosives division were trying to dispose of chemicals, police sources said.

Police said a fire that broke out after the explosion has since been brought under control.

The blast was so powerful that the death toll could go up with six critically injured and four missing, sources said.

The injured were admitted to the Apollo Hospital, after firefighters and police rushed to the plant in Kukatpally area of the city.

The blast in a unit of the lubrication and industrial explosive manufacturing company resulted in a huge fire and fire tenders were trying to put it out. Relief and rescue efforts were ongoing.
Police said 16 people were working in the unit at the time of the accident.

The division employs well-qualified, trained and experienced team of mining engineers and is one of the largest detonator manufacturer in the world (192 million pieces per annum).

With a well-equipped and well-staffed R&D wing the company has succeeded in developing new products and commercialise several products for defence and space applications.

The division is the country's largest exporter of detonators (CE Certified) to various countries, which includes countries in the Far East, South East Asia, Southern Asia, West Asia, Gulf, Middle East, North Africa and Southern Europe.

The company is part of the Hinduja Group and has diversified business interests. The current business activities of the company include energetics, mining and infrastructure services, and property development. The Company operates through 3 major divisions with independent management structures.

The chemical hub of Hinduja Group was created with Gulf Oil India Limited merging with IDL Industries Limited from 1 January 2002.