By Bobby Kumar-
An inquiry into an explosion at an Indian coal-fired power plant that killed 26 people and injured more than 100 in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is underway.
Officials say more than 20 survivors are battling for life with severe burn injuries after one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in years. Indian authorities have ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the deadly blast within seven days.
About 60 others have been injured when the explosion spewed hot ash over workers at the plant, said Sanjay Khatri, the area’s top administrative officer.
Senior state police official Anand Kumar said in a statement that ash had piled up in the furnace beneath the boiler, precipitating the eventual explosion that caused the multiple deaths.
Sanjay Kumar Khatri, the top government official of Rae Bareli district, where the plant is located said the state government had offered cash compensation of 200,000 rupees ($4,015) to the families of the deceased, 50,000 rupees for the severely injured and half of that to those who sustained minor injuries.
There was a “sudden abnormal sound” at Unit 6 of the NTPC plant in the town of Unchahar and flue gases and steam escaped during the incident, NTPC said.
The 1,550 megawatt (MW) plant supplies electricity to nine states including Uttar Pradesh and employs 870 people.
Three units with a combined capacity of 630 MW are continuing to generate electricity, while the 500 MW unit that was hit by the explosion has been shut down. Safety measures are known to be routinely flouted in many industrial organisationss, and this disaster should serve as a serious lesson to all. The investigation should unearth many failings and short cuts, but obtaining genuine investigations in India is never as easy or straightforward as in say, Western countries.
Thos ein the firing line are dubiously smart and evasive, and frequently collude with those neceessary to fabricate and concoct stories that can easily full investigators. Indians know their own, and only a painstaking and comprehensive investigation will get to the bottom of this tragedy, late alone effect corrective measures for the future. The declaration of a full investigation within the limited period of seven days may just be a soundbite for political correctness, but we will be here in seven days to see what transpires after this.
The death toll so far is set to rise as some dozen people have been hospitalized with severe burns after a pipe carrying ash from the burning coal exploded late Wednesday in the newly installed boiler at the power plant in Unchahar in Uttar Pradesh state.