Aftermath of killer explosion

THE PROBE into Wednesday’s explosion at a PowerGen station in Penal which claimed the lives of two employees and injured another, will be completed in a week’s time. This was the promise given by PowerGen public relations officer Omar Khan yesterday.

He said the cause of the blast was still unclear and the company was awaiting results of a fact-finding mission to ascertain what went wrong. The explosion occurred at about midday and claimed the lives of Anil Jailal, 26, of Oropouche Road (North) Barrackpore and Taran Jhilmit, 26, of Penal Rock Road, Penal.

Jhilmit died instantly in the explosion which took place in the 33 kilovolt (33,000) switch room. Jailal, Jhilmit and another worker — Don Andrews — were conducting maintenance work in the room. Jailal was pronounced dead on arrival at the Augustus Long Hospital in Pointe-a-Pierre.

Autopsies were carried out yesterday at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James by pathologist Dr Eastlyn McDonald Burris who concluded that Jhilmit died as a result of smoke inhalation while Jailal died of severe burns and smoke inhalation.

Andrews was admitted to San Fernando General Hospital suffering from minor burns to his face and hands. He was reported to be in satisfactory condition yesterday. When Newsday visited Andrews he was lying in the ward with his face and hands covered in a cream.

Andrews said he was doing well, but declined to divulge what occurred in the switch room. Khan said the investigation team consists of eight persons all representing the Oilfield Workers Trade Union, Factory Inspectorate, PowerGen’s safety, legal and human resources department and an independent consultant. Khan revealed yesterday that the company will cover expenses for both wakes and funerals for the dead employees. Khan also said that counselling services were being offered to the families and co-workers of Jhilmit and Jailal.