Nineteen persons were killed and 17 injured on Tuesday after superheated steam from a boiler tube blast rained on them at a power plant owned by Vedanta Limited in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, AFP reported.
The injured are being treated at several hospitals, the district police chief told the news agency.
The explosion is said to have taken place at about 2.30 pm in a steel tube carrying superheated steam from the boiler to the turbine at the power plant located in Singhitarai village, PTI reported.
An unidentified official told The Indian Express that after the tube burst, superheated steam with a temperature of about 600 degrees Celsius fell on workers having their lunch. “Some others who were walking in open spaces also got injured,” the official said.
Ajit Naskar, one among the several workers from West Bengal at the plant, told reporters that they had been hired to paint the premises, The Indian Express reported.
“The incident happened around 2.30 pm when we were just starting our work post-lunch,” the newspaper quoted Naskar as saying. “Suddenly I heard a blast and there was smoke everywhere. We were at a height of 17 metres. I was in one corner so I hid inside a cupboard.”
He added that about 40 to 50 persons were doing the painting work at the time of the incident.
In a statement, Vedanta Limited said that the incident had occurred at the Unit 1 boiler of the power plant in Singhitarai, The Indian Express reported.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the best possible medical assistance and treatment for all those affected,” the newspaper quoted the statement as saying. “We are extending full support to the injured and are closely coordinating with medical teams and local authorities.”
It added that an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
District Collector Amrit Vikas Topno said that the sub-divisional magistrate of Dabhra has been asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 30 days, PTI reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased. He also announced Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also described the incident as “extremely distressing and heart-wrenching”. He added that the state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased workers and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader added that instructions had been issued to ensure proper and free treatment for all the injured.
He also said that the Bilaspur commissioner has been ordered to investigate the incident.
“Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” Deo said on social media. “The government is continuously monitoring the entire matter and stands in full sensitivity and commitment with the affected families.”
Vedanta said that it will provide Rs 35 lakh compensation and employment to the families of the persons who died. The company said it will give Rs 15 lakh to those injured, continue paying their salaries until they recover, and provide counselling support.
The Opposition Congress demanded that a first information report be filed against the plant management and a judicial inquiry be conducted into the incident, PTI reported.
Alleging negligence on the part of the plant management, Congress leader Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday also accused the state government of attempting to shield those responsible.
He demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured.
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