9 killed, 14 injured in Bhilai Steel Plant blast

Bhilai: A blast at the Bhilai Steel Plant here in Chhattisgarh killed nine employees and injured 14 on Tuesday, the police said. The explosion at the plant of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) took place at around 10.30 am, the police said.

The explosion took place in a gas pipeline connected to the coke oven section of the plant in Bhilai town, located around 30 km away from the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, said Inspector General of Police (Durg Range) G P Singh.

According to preliminary information, over 24 employees were working at the spot when the accident occurred, he said.

Police personnel and a rescue team rushed to the spot, Singh said, adding that all the victims were taken to a local hospital. Superintendent of Police of Durg district Sanjeev Shukla said 9 people were killed in the incident.

A statement issued by the SAIL also put the death toll at 9 and said 14 were undergoing medical treatment. It said there was a fire in gas pipe line of Coke Oven Battery Complex No. 11 during a scheduled maintenance job. The fire has been controlled, the SAIL said. "All resources have been mobilized to provide adequate care to the injured," the statement added.

According to sources, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai, Steel Secretary Binoy Kumar and SAIL Chairman Anil Chaudhary have left for Bhilai. Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said, "I have got the preliminary information about the blast in a coke oven at Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP)."

"I have asked for further detailed information from the authorities. Rescue and relief measures are underway," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in June dedicated the modernised and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant to the nation.