Six workers were killed and 17 others injured when a boiler in a thermal power unit (TPS II) of NLC India Ltd exploded on Wednesday, officials said.
Chennai:
The six deceased men, aged between 25 and 42 years, were contract workers. The injured include employees who have sustained at least 40 per cent burn injuries according to an initial assessment, the official said.
The mishap occurred at the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II (210 MW x 7) when workers were in the process of resuming operations this morning.
The injured have been admitted to NLC India hospital.
It is the second major boiler blast in NLC India. In May, four persons were killed when a boiler in the TPS II exploded. The company's TPS II consists of seven units of 210 MW each.
The cause of the boiler blast is yet to be ascertained.
The NLC India's integrated mining-cum-power plant is located in Neyveli in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami expressed grief over the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 300,000 each to the bereaved families.
Palaniswami also announced Rs 100,000 each to severely injured workers and Rs 50,000 each to other injured.
நெய்வேலி அனல் மின்நிலையத்தில் கொதிகலன் வெடித்து ஏற்பட்ட விபத்தில், உயிரிழந்த 6 நபர்களின் குடும்பத்தினருக்கு தலா ரூ.3 லட்சமும், பலத்த காயமடைந்தவர்களுக்கு தலா ரூ.1 லட்சமும், இலேசான காயமடைந்தவர்களுக்கு தலா ரூ.50,000 நிவாரண நிதி வழங்கிட உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளேன். pic.twitter.com/TOyTkx8Aox
— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) July 1, 2020
Tamil Nadu: Explosion at a boiler in stage -2 of the Neyveli lignite plant. 17 injured persons taken to NLC lignite hospital. Visuals from the spot. More details awaited. https://t.co/jtaOudE9P0pic.twitter.com/FWKYNsePVO
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2020