Screengrab of the visual from the site of furnace explosion at Gummidipoondi copper recycling unit
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A 24-year-old migrant worker was killed and five others sustained burn injuries after a copper melting furnace exploded at a private copper scrap recycling unit in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate at Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district in the early hours of Tuesday (July 14, 2026).
The deceased was identified as Ravi Ranjan (24), a native of Bihar. The injured workers — Ranjith Kumar, Prince Kumar, Om Kumar, Raja Babu and Om Prakash, all from Bihar — were engaged in routine copper recycling operations at Jain Metals when the furnace reportedly exploded.
Screengrab of the visual from the site of furnace explosion at Gummidipoondi copper recycling unit
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
According to Gummidipoondi police, Ravi Ranjan had suffered severe burn injuries, while the other five workers sustained minor injuries. Company staff, along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel and police teams, rushed them to the Government Hospital in Gummidipoondi. However, Ravi Ranjan died on the way to the hospital. The injured workers are undergoing treatment.
Police said a case would be registered based on a complaint from the workers. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the explosion and the circumstances leading to the incident.
Published – July 14, 2026 12:54 pm IST
