TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

VASCO: Four contract labourers were injured, two of them critically, when an abandoned shell exploded at Western India Shipyard Limited at Harbour-Mormugao on Wednesday.

According to sources in the shipyard, the incident occurred when two workers were engaged in cutting the shell, when it exploded due to excess heating.

According to Mormugao PI Rahul Parab, the four injured workers are Pradeep Gupta (34), Rajesh Gupta (27), Raju Gauar (34) and Ramakant Chavan (34).

Two workers engaged in cutting work sustained grievous injuries, while two co-workers who were close to the site also sustained injuries.

It was not immediately clear as to how the shell was entrusted to the contract labourers, especially since they would not have had the expertise or safety equipment to deal with shells or other ammunition for that matter.

“All the injured workers have been admitted in a private hospital in Chicalim while two workers are in critical condition,” said PI Parab.

He further informed that the shell had been retrieved from the sea by a dredging ship while undertaking dredging activity near the shipyard.

Naval experts are verifying the nature and age of the shell. Mormugao Police has registered the case and is investigating the case.