Give government jobs to kin of Rae Bareli dead: Rahul

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded a "fair probe" into the boiler explosion at an NTPC plant here which killed 26 people and sought government jobs for the kin of the dead.

After visiting the accident site and meeting the injured and families of the bereaved, the Gandhi scion said the Congress wanted a fair probe into the tragedy as the distraught families had the right to know what happened on Wednesday.

Representing her mother and local MP Sonia Gandhi who could not make it due to poor health, Rahul Gandhi cut short his Gujarat tour to reach Rae Bareli. He walked up the five-storey unit at Unchahar town to see for himself the remains of the boiler that exploded.

He was briefed by NTPC Executive Director R.S. Rathi.

As many as 26 persons, mostly contractual labourers, died in the disaster and over 60 others were injured.

Gandhi said the "workers have demanded a judicial probe into the incident" and the families of the victims should be properly compensated.

"It was saddening to see the pain of the NTPC victims. Their families should get proper compensation and government jobs apart from all possible help to the injured," said Gandhi on Twitter.

"The workers are saying that the incident took place due to irresponsibility. They have demanded a judicial probe into the incident and the culprits should get severe punishment," he added.

--IANS

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