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Rourkela: As many as four employees at the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes that leaked at the Coal Chemical Department of the plant on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, around 15 employees were on duty at the site when the incident took place. Ten of them fell ill following the leakage of toxic gas from the plant. All were initially admitted to the dispensary on the plant premises.
Later, four of them were shifted to the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) after their condition deteriorated. While two were declared brought dead, two more succumbed during treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital where they had been admitted in a critical condition, reports said.
The deceased have been identified as Ganesh Chandra Pahil (55), Rabindra Sahu (59), Abhimanyu Sah (33) and Bramhananda Panda (51).
Six more employees have been discharged from the plant dispensary after preliminary treatment.
Soon after the incident, fire service personnel of the steel plant rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area after evacuating all the employees who were on duty.
The plant authorities have formed a panel to investigate the circumstances that led to the mishap. Sources said that the gas leaked at the coal chemical site of the plant following the sudden burst of the safety valve.
The injured and other staff present at the site had been engaged on contractual basis, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RSP, Dipak Chattaraj has expressed deep anguish over the untimely demise of workers. He assured every possible support to the bereaved families.
Similarly, BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda has offered condolences over the demise of four labourers in the industrial mishap.
Deeply saddened to learn of the gas leak at Rourkela Steel Plant in Odisha. My condolences to the bereaved families & prayers for the departed souls. Prayers also for the speedy recovery of those admitted in hospital.
Om Shanti 🙏🙏— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) January 6, 2021
On the other hand, the Labour Association has demanded adequate compensation to the bereaved families and action against the head of the Coal Chemical department of the plant.
“We demand a job for the next to the kin of every deceased worker and adequate compensation to the families. Action should be taken against the head of the department where the accident occurred. There must be some lapses in prescribed protocols that led to such mishap,” said a member of the labour association.
