18 dead, many injured as boiler explodes in NTPC’s plant in Rae Bareli
RAE BARELI : At least 18 persons died and around 50 injured after a boiler tube exploded at the National Thermal Power Corporation unit in Unchahar in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh on November 1. According to U.P. ADGP Anand Kumar, police have recovered 10 bodies so far. The toll could go up, he added.
Around 22 victims with severe burn injuries have been referred to Lucknow, said he said adding, another 15 victims are in Rae Bareli hospital. Some victims were also sent to Allahabad. “Total number of casualties could go up once the blades of the Boiler are cut. NDRF Team are at site,” Mr. Kumar said.
U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Principal Secretary, Home, to oversee the rescue work and announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each to the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 to those injured grievously and ₹25,000 for other injuries.
Senior officials have rushed to the spot. An NDRF team consisting of 32 personnel have left Lucknow for Unchahar.Nearby trauma centres and hospitals are on alert to give immediate relief to patients of the tragedy, said U.P. Health Minister Sidharthnath Singh.
Mr. Kumar, the ADGP, said prima facie the boiler burst due to built up pressure caused by the gathering of ash. “Prima facie, what the NTPC management has told me, ash gathered in the furnace of the boiler, which should not have happened. Due to gathering of ash, pressure built up and the boiler burst. [As for] the reasons why it happened, this is a technical probe and NTPC officials will do it,” Mr. Kumar said. The boiler was installed just six months ago.
Describing it as an “unfortunate accident,” the NTPC said: “In NTPC Unchahar, Unit No. 6 at around 1530 hrs on 01.11.2017 there was sudden abnormal sound at 20 mt. elevation and there was opening in corner no.2 from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area.”
“An enquiry has been set up by NTPC management to investigate the reasons for the accident. All possible measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the families of affected people in close coordination with the district administration,” the firm said through a media statement.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and horror at the terrible tragedy. Conveying her deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, Ms. Gandhi, the Rae Bareli constituency MP, urged upon the authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured. She has also asked UPCC & Congress workers to provide help in relief operations and provide all possible assistance to the families of the injured.The Hindu.
