NTPC Explosion: Death toll rises to 22, injured 66

At least 22 people have been killed and 66 injured as an ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at the NTPC plant in Unchahar area of Raebareli on Wednesday, reported the Raebareli District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri on Thursday.

"22 causalities have been reported till now. 66 injured people are undergoing treatment. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting rescue operations at the spot, so there are minute chances that more victims will be found," the District Magistrate said.

"We have constituted a team of a Magistrate and a Technical Officer, which will conduct a magisterial inquiry into the incident," he added.

According to Talha Shamsi, a doctor at the Raebarelli hospital, most of the victims suffered third-degree burns in the incident and were therefore shifted to Lucknow hospital.

"Yesterday, approximately 42 people came to our hospital. Two of them were brought dead. We gave first aid to the rest 40 people and shifted them to their ward. Around 30 to 32 people, critically burnt in the mishap, were referred to Lucknow," he said.

The doctor said, they kept their ambulances ready and vacated trauma wards after receiving information about the mishap.Many patients were immediately shifted to Unnao, Balrampur, and Pratapgarh.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi arrived in Raebarelli to visit the injured. The district is also the Parliamentary constituency of Rahul's mother and party President Sonia Gandhi.

Hours after the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the kin of deceased, Rs. 50,000 for critically injured and Rs. 25,000 for injured.