Nitin Gadkari orders inquiry into Cochin Shipyard blast, confirms four deaths in incident

New Delhi: Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the blast at Cochin Shipyard in Kerala in which five persons were killed. The minister, however, confirmed the death of four persons. Gadkari tweeted after the incident:

Shocked by unfortunate blast at Cochin Shipyard where 4 people have died. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. I have spoken to MD,Cochin Shipyard n asked him to provide all necessary medical support to victims n to initiate immed inquiry with help of concerned agencies

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 13, 2018

According to the police, five persons were killed and a dozen others injured in the blast inside an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation tanker. Those working at the time of the blast mostly included daily labourers and contract workers. Tuesday being a holiday, no regular workers of the shipyard were present. The blast took place around 11 am in the water tank of the berthed ONGC tanker Sagar Bhushan when some 20 workers were working in the tanker ship. The Sagar Bhushan has been docked at the Cochin Shipyard for a month for repairs and maintenance.