NTPC Unchahar plant explosion as it happened: Death toll up to 18; PM Modi says situation being closely monitored

Nine were killed and over 100 injured in an industrial boiler tube explosion at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC's) Unchahar unit at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

According to CNN-News 18, the boiler plant was under trial. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the state's chief secretary to ensure rescue and relief operations at the earliest.

Last year, in a major accident, three contract labourers were killed on the spot when they were trying to remove a coal blockage at the coal mill area of the 500 MW fourth unit of the NTPC, Ramagundam, The Hindu reported.

Representational image. Image courtesy: AIR

Representational image. Image courtesy: AIR

In another incident in October 2016, three contract labourers from Punjab were crushed to death when a 100-tonne girder, being fitted in the upcoming power station of the NTPC, fell on them, Business Standard reported.

According to NTPC's preliminary assessment, the girder crash may have occurred after it broke from the supporting cables of the crane when it was in the process of being installed in the boiler room of the the 1,320 MW plant in Ahirwadi area.

NTPC's Unchahar plant is a coal-based power station that provides power to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttranchal.

The power's first unit was commissioned in 1998 and the last and sixt unit was commissioned in 2006.

The plant has a capacity of 840 MW (2 x 210 + 2 x 210 MW) in Stage I & II and 210 MW (1 x 210 MW) in Stage III. The plant derives its power from coal source in North Karanpura and water from Sarda Sahayak Canal.


Published Date: Nov 01, 2017 10:07 pm | Updated Date: Nov 01, 2017 10:48 pm


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