Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh today said that the death toll in the NTPC boiler explosion in Raebareli rose to 30. The massive explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant on Wednesday caused injuries to scores of people.

On Thursday, Union Power Minister RK Singh said that the next of kin of those killed in the explosion will get a compensation amount of Rs 20 lakh. The Uttar Pradesh state administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Officials confirmed that NTPC too had ordered a probe into the incident. This amount is in addition to the compensation provided under the workmen compensation rules, he 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," said Singh.

HERE ARE THE TOP DEVELOPMENTS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved an ex-gratia 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.
Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who visited the accident site, termed the incident as gory and saddening. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who visited the accident site, termed the incident as gory and saddening.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today met the workers injured in the boiler explosion at the NTPC plant here as his party demanded that a judicial inquiry be ordered into the incident that left 26 persons dead.
Taking a break from his Gujarat election tour, the Congress vice president visited the Gandhi family pocket- borough Rae Bareli to meet those injured in the explosion and said his party will demand a probe into the incident.
The office of Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Labourers have said that the accident took place due to negligence and that there should be a judicial probe into the accident." Rahul and other opposition leaders descended on the accident site demanded a judicial probe into the blast.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar said in Lucknow that a number of patients who have come to the state capital were "substantially burnt" and doctors and medical staff were giving them the best possible treatment. He said the state government will ensure that there is no shortage of medicines at the hospitals.
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of 26 people in a blast at an NTPC plant in Rae Bareli. Expressing its concern over the incident, the Commission said in a statement today that a "high-level probe into the matter is immediately required to ascertain the negligence and errors, if any, behind the incident, which involves the right to life".
Power Minister RK Singh also met NTPC chairman and managing director Gurdeep Singh. The duo visited the site of the incident and also met injured persons who were admitted in various hospitals in Raebareli.

ALSO WATCH | 16 killed, over 100 injured in boiler explosion at NTPC plant in Raebareli

NTPC boiler blast: Toll rises to 30, here are the top developments

The death toll in the massive explosion that had ripped a boiler at the NTPC's Unchahar plant has risen up to 30, informed Rajiv Kumar, chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh.