Vedanta-Facor plant tension: Prohibitory orders under Sec 144 extended further

As palpable tension over the fire mishap at Vedanta-Facor plant at Randia continues, the Bhadrak district administration has again extended the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC as a precautionary measure.

According to sources, the restriction has been extended for another 48 hours and will remain in force in the area till 6 am on April 19.

With no sign of development in the situation, this is the third extension of the enforcement in a row.

The district administration had slapped Section 144 on April 12 and it continued till 6am on April 14. Later, the orders were extended and were in force till April 16. 

It is worthwhile to mention here that, the district administration enforced the restriction around 200-metre radius of the plant at Randia after two workers sustained grievous injuries in a fire mishap on April 11. 

The injured workers identified as Purna Chandra Sutar from Koranta and Bijay Kumar Behera were employed as furnace charging car operators at the plant.

The duo sustained severe burn injuries in a fire mishap while working in the plant on April 11.

The injured were initially taken to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment. However, they were later air-lifted to the National Burns Centre in Mumbai after their health deteriorated further.

Tension prevailed at the plant and nearby villages after the news of the mishap spread, forcing the administration to clamp Section 144.