Dalmia cement factory tragedy: Three workers still trapped under debris, 64 rescued

Three workers are still trapped under the debris following the collapse of a coal hopper at the Dalmia Cement plant in Rajgangpur in Sundargarh district on Thursday night.  

While 64 workers have been rescued safely, local authorities have informed that three more employees are currently unaccounted for beneath the coal debris. The mishap occurred as a coal hopper, used for storing large quantities of coal before it is moved to a boiler, gave way, leading to the workers becoming trapped beneath tons of debris.

The missing individuals have been identified as Susant Rout, Dasaratha Patra, and Ranjit Bhol. Rescuers have deployed six fire brigade teams and are utilising cranes on-site to rescue the trapped employees safely.

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Company officials’ stressed they are prioritising the search and rescue operations. Senior figures, including the Superintendent of Police (SP), Tehsildar, and additional police officers, are managing the efforts personally.

“After the rescue operation, 64 of them have already been rescued. But, three are still missing. They are all local labourers and have been identified as Susant Rout, Dasaratha Patra, and Ranjit Bhol. The rescue operation is on and we will make every effort to rescue them,” informed Jagabandhu Mallick, Rajgangpur Tehsildar.

When contacted, Western Range DIG Brijesh Rai said, “Firefighter teams have been deployed. The ODRAF teams are also here. The iron structure has collapsed and until now three are still missing. Efforts are on to rescue them.”

Following the accident, the company's gates have been shut, leading to unrest among those outside. Relatives and colleagues of the missing workers have gathered, seeking answers and reassurance.

Meanwhile, the company has pledged full cooperation with rescue teams and has commenced an internal investigation regarding the mishap. Safety protocols are under review to prevent future occurrences.