A youth was killed and five people were injured after a compressor of an air conditioner exploded on the rooftop of a biotechnology laboratory at Delhi University’s South Campus area on Friday afternoon.
According to the police, the incident took place around 3 pm when two private mechanics were called in to repair the split AC at the biotech centre. The compressor was situated on the rooftop of the four-storey building. The AC mechanic, identified as Shakeel, was filling gas in the compressor along with his helper Sikander during the time of the incident. The impact of the blast was such that the air duct pipes, which were also connected on the third floor, were affected due to the blast. Four women staffs of the institute were also injured because of this. They have been identified as Usha, Rupesh, Anjali and Simran. The injured were rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where Shakeel was pronounced dead on arrival while the others are undergoing treatment. Shakeel reportedly lost his arm due to the blast.
Shakeel was a resident of Turkman Gate and worked for an AC repair company located in South Extension area of the Capital. Police have also registered a case of negligence and are looking into the matter. According to officials in the university, the technicians went to the rooftop of the biotechnology block to repair an air conditioner of the laboratory.
“They were filling gas in when the compressor suddenly exploded. There were four other persons on the spot of which one was severely injured. The other three had minor injuries. They were rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre immediately,” said a senior official from South Campus.
later, a statement issued by the Registrar of Delhi University said, the deceased was a mechanic, who was employed and working on behalf of the outsourced company for maintenance in the university. The statement further read, “His co-worker is injured and is undergoing treatment but is out of danger. Three lab employees working in the laboratory sustained minor injuries and were back to work after first-aid.”