Explosion at IISc Bangalore, researcher killed, 3 critically injured

A researcher was killed and three others were injured in a suspected hydrogen cylinder explosion in a laboratory at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Manoj Kumar, 32, and the three injured are Karthik Shenoy, Naresh Kumar and Athulya Uday Kumar.

According to sources, the researcher with a start-up company died during a shock wave at their laboratory at Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Three others, who were injured have been taken to a private hospital. Though the nature of explosion and its cause were yet to be established, it was suspected that the incident occurred due to a blast in a cylinder containing some gas, the police said.

"Forensic experts would ascertain the actual cause of the accident but it seems like a cylinder blast," said Assistant Commissioner of Police Niranjan Raj Urs told news agency PTI

The sources said the explosion occurred around 2.20 pm at the research laboratory of Aerospace Department’s Laboratory for Hypersonic and Shockwave. Four people from a start-up company, being incubated at IISc, were at the laboratory at the time of incident. Atulya, Karthik and Naresh Kumar were severely injured and rushed to Ramaiah hospital where they are reported to be in a critical state.

Watch | BREAKING VIDEO: Explosion at IISc Bangalore, researcher killed

Super-Wave Technology Private Limited (SWTPL) is an Indian Institute of Science initiative, promoted and managed by its Directors Prof KPJ Reddy and Prof G Jagadeesh, both professors of Department of Aerospace Engineering, IISc Bengaluru. The company is engaged in research in the area of shockwaves and its applications in various fields and has several patents to its credit, according to its official website. 

IISc Bangalore is ranked in top 100 of the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings table for engineering and technology subjects. In the recently released subject rankings, IIT Bombay found its place in the band of 151-175 for the same category.

"This is to inform that we have received three patients from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on 5th December, 2018 with complaint of accidental blast around 2.15 pm," Ramaiah Memorial Hospital said in its statement. The hospital added, "All the patients are critical and require surgical intervention and ICU care."

Here is the hospital's full statement:

The Indian Institute of Science was established in 1909 by a visionary partnership of industrialist Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the Maharaja of Mysore and the government of India, according to its official website.

Since its inception, the institute has laid a balanced emphasis on the pursuit of basic knowledge in science and engineering, as well as on the application of its research findings for industrial and social benefit.

In the words of its founder, JN Tata, the objectives of the institute are "to provide for advanced instruction and to conduct original investigations in all branches of knowledge as are likely to promote the material and industrial welfare of India."

(With PTI inputs)