The toll in the HPCL Visakha refinery accident rose to 26 on Tuesday, with K. Ramana (28) succumbing to burn injuries in a private hospital. A blast and fire occurred in the cooling tower of the refinery here on August 23. Of the dead workers, one was HPCL employee and the rest were contract workers.
According to the press release, compensation cheque of Rs 20 lakh was handed over to the district collector on Tuesday to be sent in turn to the dead worker's family. A sum of Rs 5 crore has been handed over to the district collector as compensation to the dead contract workers.
At present, 7 workers are undergoing treatment in city hospitals and 7 at the National Burns Centre in Mumbai. The condition of one of the contract workers undergoing treatment in Mumbai is stated to be critical.