Kasaragod: One worker was killed and 10 others were injured when a boiler exploded at a plywood factory in the Ananthapuram Industrial Estate near Kumbla on Monday evening. Of the injured, the condition of three is reported to be critical, said District Collector Inbasekar K. The deceased has been identified as Naseerul, a native of Assam.

Initially, seven of the injured were taken to Doctors Hospital in Uppala. "Naseerul died in our hospital. The remaining six were shifted to Yenepoya Hospital in Mangaluru," said an official at Doctors Hospital.

The blast occurred at Décor Panel Plywood Factory, which employs around 300 workers, almost all of them from outside Kearla, said K Sajith, Manager of the District Industries Centre, which oversees the estate.

Pauly, a native of Perumbavoor, owns the unit. He has left for Kasaragod on hearing about the blast. "The factory at Ananthapuram operates round the clock, and the blast took place soon after the 6.45 pm shift began. Around 20 workers were on duty at the time," said Sajith.

Residents said the explosion occurred around 7.10 pm. The industrial estate, located in the Kannur ward of Puthige grama panchayat, lies barely 500 metres from the famous Ananthapura Lake Temple, said ward member Janardhana Poojary K. "We rushed out on hearing the loud explosion. Windows and doors of houses within a 300-metre radius were damaged, and the sound was heard nearly a kilometre away," he said.

A boiler in plywood factories generates high-pressure steam used for drying and pressing wood sheets. Police teams have cordoned off the area and taken precautionary safety measures, said the Collector.

The Department of Factories and Boilers has assigned the Chemical Emergency Response Centre (CHEMREC), Ernakulam, to investigate the incident. Further action will be taken once the detailed inquiry is complete, the collector added.