Welding works spark blast aboard Africa-bound cargo vessel at Kerala’s Kollam; one injured

A 40-year-old engineer from Uttar Pradesh sustained severe burn injuries following an explosion aboard a cargo ship anchored at the Kollam port for repairs. The victim, identified as Satyaprakash, suffered critical burns to his face and body when a blast occurred while welding work was being carried out on the vessel’s faulty generator. The ship, identified as the ‘IOL Sapphire,’ was originally en route from Andhra Pradesh to Africa with a cargo of rice but was forced to dock at Kollam on July 23 after experiencing technical issues. Following the explosion, the Coastal police arrived at the scene and rushed the injured engineer to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment. Published - August 12, 2026 08:13 pm IST