Lucknow: 20 persons were killed and over 100 injured when a pipe connected to a boiler exploded in the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) unit in Rae Bareli on Wednesday evening.
Most of the victims were labourers working at the plant. ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar confirmed that 16 bodies had been retrieved and rescue operations were on. The death toll could go up as search operations are still gong on.
Four managers of the plant have also been injured. The plant has been shut down after the accident.
Soon after the accident occurred, the NTPC gates were closed and mediapersons were not allowed entry.
Personnel of the CRPF were deployed in large numbers on the NTPC campus.
The injured labourers were taken to the NTPC hospital for treatment. Those with serious injuries were being brought to Lucknow.
NTPC ash pipe exploded under high pressure
According to reports, a massive fire broke out inside and a huge ball of dust rose after the explosion making rescue operations difficult.
There was no official statement on the incident but sources said that there were about 150 laborers working in the shift when the mishap took place.
Sources said that the explosion took place in a boiler which is filled with water in tubes that are heated. This creates steam which moves the turbines and generates electricity.
A district official said that the ash pipe exploded due to pressure. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is presently in Mauritius, has directed principal secretary Home to ensure all steps for relief and rescue at the accident. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured. Senior officials, including medical teams, reached the site of the accident to supervise rescue operations.
