BSL accident toll rises to 2, PCB serves closure notice

Another worker today died of burns suffered in the fire and explosion at private Bhushan Steel Limited's plant at Meramundali in Dhenkanal district, taking the toll to two, even as the State Pollution Control Board issued a closure notice for its certain illigal units.

The 22-year-old worker, admitted with over 70 per cent burns, died at a private hospital in Cuttack, Health minister Damodar Rout told reporters here.

The condition of another worker, Durga Charan Hansda with about 50 per cent burn injury, is stable, Rout said.

About 19 persons were injured in the accident on November 13.

The State Pollution Control Board ordered closure of the power plant and the rolling mill in the plant with immediate effect as they were running illegally, Board Secretary Lalit Tiwari said.

The plant authorities did not have permission to operate the second blast furnace where accident took place, he said.

The second blast furnace was sealed earlier.