Bhilai Steel Plant mishap: At least 8 wounded; probe underway

Eight persons were Friday injured after a portion of the roof of a blast furnace in Bhilai Steel Plant here was damaged, police said. The incident took place at around noon when these persons were working in the Steel Melting Shop (SMS) Section 1 in the plant, located in Bhilai town, a police official told PTI. "At least eight persons sustained burn injuries in the incident. We are probing the incident," the official said.

In a statement, Bhilai Steel Plant authorities said that at around 11:55 am, the right heart of the twin-hearth furnace of SMS 1 developed sudden pressure, which in turn damaged a portion of the roof, leading to hot dust and splinters spreading near the furnace area.

"This has caused patchy burn injuries to eight persons working around the furnace area at that time," the statement informed. It said the injured were immediately taken to the main medical post, given first aid and shifted to Sector 9 hospital where they have been kept under observation.

The release added that "all affected persons are out of danger". It identified the injured as senior technician Sanjay Narain Rai (51), assistant manager CH Ramkrishna Rao (47), operatives G Ishwar (46) and TP Harmukh (54), senior operativesTilak Ram (52) and SM Singh (43), junior officer SP Diwan (51) and skilled worker Karamchand Suman (59).

(With inputs from agencies.)