Jindal plant blast leads to tension

A fire mishap in the ferroalloys unit of Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) plant in Kalinga Nagar steel hub today killed one person.

Eight persons sustained burn injuries.

The deceased and injured have been identified as contractual workers engaged in the JSL plant through a contractor Asian Earth Movers of Uttar Pradesh.

The injured were rushed to the Danagadi government hospital.

Later two of them were shifted to the Sriram Chandra Bhanj Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack when their condition deteriorated.

The deceased is Manoj Gour (40) of Uttar Pradesh.

Preliminary investigation revealed that careless handling of the tapping slag of the arc furnace in the ferrochrome unit of the plant led to an explosion.

Following the accident, angry mob gheraoed the JSL plant demanding Rs 10-lakh compensation and a permanent job to the kin of the deceased in the JSL plant.

Meanwhile, the lone recognized labourers' union of the unit claimed that three persons have been killed and at least ten others also have been injured following the explosion.

President of Jindal Stainless Contract Labourer Union, Bidyadhar Mohanty alleged that the mishap happened only due to the negligence of the plant management.

The company is utilizing unskilled and unexperienced labour force in permanent nature of work in order to save money, he added.

"Only one casualty has been reported. Though eight persons were injured, five of them have been released from hospital after preliminary treatment and two are undergoing treatment in SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack", said M D Burma, General Manager (Human Resources) of JSL.

With tension prevailing in the area following the mishap, two platoons of police led by Additional Superintendent of Police have been deployed at the spot to prevent any untoward incident.