The toll in the HPCL Visakha refinery cooling tower accident rose to 24 on Tuesday with one more contract worker succumbing to burn injuries, according to a press release. One of them was a regular employee of the HPCL and the rest were contract workers.

Murari Pradhan, 30, undergoing treatment in a private hospital, died here on Tuesday. Shifting of debris from the accident site to the designated place is in progress.

Currently, 9 contract workers are undergoing treatment in three private hospitals here. Compensation cheque for Rs 20 lakhs was handed over on Tuesday to the district collector for handing over to the dependants of Murari Pradhan.

A sum of Rs 4.6 crore has been handed over to the district collector so far as compensation to the families of the dead contract workers, with each family getting Rs 20 lakhs. For the HPCL employee who died in the accident a total package of Rs 1.5 crore including ex gratia was announced.

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