Baleshwar: One person was killed after an old fuel storage tank exploded during cutting work at a fuel station in Baligohiri of Nilagiri town in Odisha’s Baleshwar district today.

The incident occurred when three workers from Kolkata were cutting an old oil tank at the fuel station. The tank suddenly caught fire and exploded, causing its lid to fly off and hit Birendra Singh, a resident of Bimuria village under Remuna block. He was working at the fuel station and died on the spot.

On receiving information, Nilagiri police reached the spot and took the fuel station owner, Dipti Kanta Mohapatra, manager Kamalalochan Nayak and two workers to the police station for questioning.

Tension erupted at the petrol pump following the incident as agitated locals, demanding justice for the deceased, resorted to vandalism at the site.

Police have started an investigation into the incident.