Surathkal: MRPL blast victim Rajesh D’Souza laid to rest

Surathkal: The last rites of Rajesh D’Souza, who died on Saturday after sustaining severe injuries in an explosion at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) on September 30, were performed at Sacred Heart Church in Surathkal on Sunday.

The body was brought by ambulance to his residence at Kana in Idya village at 2 pm, where arrangements were made for the public to pay their last respects. At 4 pm, the body was taken to Sacred Heart Church, where religious ceremonies were conducted before the burial.

Hundreds of people, including MRPL employees, attended the funeral procession.

The explosion occurred on the afternoon of September 30 at the Coker Hydro Treating Unit (CHTU) in Phase 3 of the MRPL plant. Manish, a resident of Haleyangadi, died on the spot, while Rajesh sustained severe burn injuries and was admitted to the intensive care unit of Father Muller Hospital in Mangaluru. He died on Saturday morning despite treatment.

The blast was powerful enough to cause tremors to be felt within a radius of around three to four kilometres. Several buildings, including houses, shops, places of worship, schools and panchayat buildings, developed cracks. Window and door glass panes were shattered, leaving residents deeply alarmed.