Powergen blast kills 2

IN WHAT has been described as the worst accident to take place at PowerGen Limited, two men were killed and another was injured when they were hit with 33,000 volts of electricity during an explosion at PowerGen’s power supply station in Penal yesterday morning.

Anil Jailal, 26, of Oropouche Road (North) Barrackpore died at the Augustus Long Hospital in Pointe-a-Pierre while his colleague Taran Jhilmit, 26, of Penal Rock Road died on the spot. Don Andrews, who was injured in the incident remained warded in stable condition last night at San Fernando General Hospital suffering from burns to his hands.

The explosion knocked out electricity supply for several hours to residents and businesses in Penal, Fyzabad and Barrackpore. OWTU executive vice-president Rollins Bernard renewed the union’s call to Government to move swiftly to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to protect workers on job sites.

The incident occurred around 11.45 am when Jhilmit an Electrical and Installation (ENI) technician II and Jailal who two months earlier was confirmed as an ENI technician, were in a 33 kilo-volt switch room conducting maintenance work. A switch room, as explained by OWTU (PowerGen) representative Mohan Khanhai, is one of the rooms from which electricity is transmitted.

Newsday was told when the explosion occurred, Jhilmit who was on a ladder at the time, fell to the ground as he was electrocuted while Jailal’s clothing was ignited and he became a human fireball, running screaming out of the switch room engulfed from head to toe in flames. Within minutes the Fire Department, Penal police and the Emergency Health Services arrived on the scene. Jailal and Andrews were taken to hospital while the district medical officer was called in to view and order the removal of Jhilmit’s body.

“I heard he caught afire and started to roll on the ground. Another employee doused the flames and they called an ambulance which took him to hospital,” a dazed looking Deopersad Jailal said as he spoke about his son. He added that when he arrived at the Augustus Long Hospital around 1 pm, he was told his son had already died.

Relatives of the dead men told Newsday they complained about safety conditions at the worksite. PowerGen PRO Omar Khan said the “devastating” incident was a very “traumatic time” for the company. Khan, accompanied by PowerGen Chairman Leo Martin and Chief Executive Officer Garth Chatoor, said a team comprising PowerGen officials and members of the OWTU (PowerGen) branch will be formed to investigate the incident. He also extended condolences to the families of the dead men and said counselling will be provided to traumatised workers.

“One death is one death too many. In these circumstances we continue to identify with the lacklustre approach of Government in the implementation of OSHA. Given the resources we have in this country, that we get serious and identify with Acts which will benefit or make provisons to deal with accidents of any nature,” Bernard said. Autopsies are to be carried out on the bodies today at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James.