Pune: Two workers lost their lives and three others were hospitalized following a carbon dioxide (CO2) leak from a firefighting system during maintenance operations at a multinational corporation's plant in the Talegaon MIDC area on Tuesday afternoon.
Details of the Incident
According to police, both deceased were employees of a private firm contracted to maintain the firefighting system of the automotive MNC, which is headquartered in Germany. Among the three injured, two are employees of the company, while the third is a worker from the maintenance agency.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Gaurishankar Sharma (38), a resident of Ambi in Maval taluka, and Vaibhav Thorat (24), a resident of Chikhali area in Pimpri Chinchwad.
The gas leak occurred around 12:30 pm when workers were servicing the firefighting system. During the process, the safety pin of a CO2 cylinder was allegedly removed, causing a sudden release of gas under high pressure. Police stated that Sharma and Thorat likely inhaled a large quantity of the gas and died of suffocation. The three others managed to move away from the area and were taken to a nearby hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties.
Police Statement
Senior Inspector Santosh Patil of Talegaon MIDC police station said, "An accidental death report will be registered. The three injured workers are stable and likely to be discharged on Wednesday."
Patil further explained that the company's manufacturing operations were ongoing in the afternoon, while the maintenance work was being carried out in a separate room housing the firefighting system. "Entry to the room is prohibited for other employees. Hence, the gas leak did not affect the other employees," he added.
Investigation and Company Response
The maintenance agency had deployed trained professionals for the job. Prima facie, the gas leak appears to be accidental, the officer said.
An official statement from the company was awaited at the time of going to press. Sources indicated that the company's headquarters in Germany has taken note of the incident and is closely monitoring the situation. They added that all assistance and support are being extended to the injured workers.
Company Background
According to the company's official website, its plant in Talegaon was established in 2001. It specializes in rolling bearings and precision parts for a wide range of applications in the automotive industry, motorcycles, precision equipment, machine tools, and material handling.
