NTPC shuts Unchahar plant unit, toll reaches 30

NEW DELHI: India's largest power producer NTPC Ltd on Thursday said it had closed a 500 MW unit at its Unchahar coal-fired power station in Rae Bareli after an explosion killed 30 people and injured several others.

The 1,550-megawatt (MW) plant, which supplies electricity to nine states, had reported an explosion in the furnace beneath the boiler yesterday.

"This is to inform that Unit-6 (500 MW) of Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Station, Rae Bareli, UP, is under shutdown after an accident on the evening of November 1. The other five units of the station are operating normally," NTPC said in a statement.

The next of kin of those killed in a boiler explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant will get a compensation amount of Rs 20 lakh, Union Power minister R K Singh said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the state administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

A massive explosion had ripped a boiler at the NTPC's Unchahar plant, and the death toll in the incident had risen to 26, officials said.

"I am of the view that the ex-gratia which was earlier announced was not enough. Rs 20 lakh compensation will be given to the next of kin of those who died in the accident, while the seriously injured will get Rs 10 lakh and those who sustained minor injuries will be given Rs 2 lakh," he told reporters in Unchahar.

This amount is in addition to the compensation provided under the workmen compensation rules, he said.

Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased.

"Prime Minister @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. PM has approved Rs 50,000 each for those injured due to the accident," the prime minister's office said on Twitter.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for the other injured workers.