A massive explosion has ripped a boiler at National Thermal Power Limited (NTPC) Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district on Wednesday, killing at least 25 people and injuring nearly 100. The casualties are still rising with many injured in critical condition.
In what is one of the worst industrial disasters in eight years (after 2009 fire in Indian Oil’s Jaipur depot), local emergency response was overwhelmed with the scale of disaster. Help was sought from neighbouring town and cities including Lucknow and Allahabad. Almost all the injured have been transferred to hospitals in state capital, Lucknow for better treatment.
The Unchahar plant also houses a complete integrated township, owned by the company and its emergency services were the first to respond to the disaster.
In a statement, the company said that at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20-meter elevation around 3.30 pm in the afternoon of November 1. An opening in corner number two allowed hot flue gases and steam “to escape” most likely causing the unfortunate event.
Prime minister has expressed his grief on the incident so has Rahul Gandhi and congress president Sonia Gandhi who is also the Member of parliament from the region.
Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 1, 2017
Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon.
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017
Congress President Sonia Gandhi conveys her condolences for the #NTPC tragedy in Rae Bareli. pic.twitter.com/91pOdCQQwy
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) November 1, 2017
Enquiries have been ordered by various agencies to uncover the reasons of the blast.
