 "BSP, Bhilai Steel Plant")
A blast at the Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh killed 9 employees and injured 14 on Tuesday, the police said.
The explosion at the plant of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) took place at around 10.30 am, the police said.
The explosion took place in a gas pipeline connected to the coke oven section of the plant in Bhilai town, located around 30 km away from the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Inspector General of Police (Durg Range) G P Singh said.
As per preliminary information, over 24 employees were working at the spot when the accident occurred, he said.
Police personnel and a rescue team rushed to the spot, Singh said, adding that all the victims were being taken to a local hospital.
Superintendent of Police of Durg district Sanjeev Shukla said 9 people were killed in the incident.
A statement issued by the SAIL also put the death toll at 9 and said 14 were undergoing medical treatment.
It said there was a fire in gas pipe line of Coke Oven Battery Complex No 11 during a scheduled maintenance job.
The fire has been controlled, the SAIL said.
"All resources have been mobilised to provide adequate care to the injured," the statement said.
SAIL on Tuesday evening said the fire at its Bhilai plant has been brought under control.
"In an unfortunate incident at around 10.30 am today (Tuesday) in SAIL Bhilai Steel Plant, there was a fire in gas pipeline of Coke Oven Battery Complex No 11 during a scheduled maintenance job. Some persons working at the site sustained burn injuries," the company said in a statement.
"Injured persons were immediately rushed to the BSP Hospital for medical care and aid. Meanwhile, the fire has been controlled. So far, nine persons have lost their lives and 14 are undergoing medical treatment. All resources have been mobilised to provide adequate care to the injured."
As per SAIL's website, the Bhilai Steel Plant is India's sole producer and supplier of world class rails for the Indian Railways, including 260 metre long rails, and a major producer of a large variety of wide and heavy steel plates and structural steel.
With an annual production capacity of 3.153 MT of saleable steel, the plant also specialises in other products such as wire rods and merchant products.
Chhattisgarh: Visuals from outside a hospital in Bhilai; 6 people have died and 14 injured in a gas pipeline blast in Bhilai Steel Plant. pic.twitter.com/aQGFNr3LIg
— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2018On Tuesday, share price of SAIL at the BSE fell by over 1.60 per cent or Rs 1.05 from its previous close to Rs 63.45.
Tuesday’s explosion at Steel Authority of India (SAIL)’s Bhilai plant is not the first to shock the country, which faces serious concerns over industrial safety. One of the most recent ones include an explosion at Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL)’s Mumbai refinery in August which reported 21 people injured. Here is a recall of some major fatal incidents reported in the past few years.
November 2, 2017: Explosion in a boiler at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)'s Unchahar plant in Rae Bareli district claimed more 45 lives.
November 23, 2016: Fire broke out at the refinery complex of Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, killing two
June 27, 2014: A fire after a blast at a GAIL underground gas pipeline in Nagaram, Andhra Pradesh, kills 18 and injures 40
September 23, 2009: Collapse of a 275-m chimney being constructed at Vedanta's Bharat Aluminium plant kills at least 45
October 29, 2009: Fire at IndianOil's oil depot tank holding 8,000 kl in Jaipur kills 12 lives and injures 200
July 27, 2005: An offshore platform of ONGC in Bombay High gutted, killing at least four
Based on data compiled by Business Standard, eight companies of the 30 companies in the BSE Sensex that shared data of fatalities for the 2016-17 and 2015-16, reported 99 fatalities in 2016-17 against 86 in the previous year. Industry experts agree this number would be the tip of the iceberg, as BSE Sensex companies are expected to follow best industrial practices. Here is a look at how some of largest producers – private and public - of oil, power, coal and metal performed on industrial safety.
How they fared….
Indian Oil Corporation - Reported one death in 2016-17 in one accident, 10 deaths in 4 accidents in 2015-16
SAIL- Reported 11 industrial deaths in 2016, 20 in 2015
JSW Steel- Reported 5 industrial deaths in 2017-18
NTPC - reported 11 industrial deaths in 2016-17, against 14 in 2015-16
Adani Power - Reported 8 fatalities at Mundra plant in 2016-17, one in 2015-16
Coal India - Reported 37 fatalities in 34 fatal incidents in 2017, against 56 deaths in 2016
Compiled by Amritha Pillay & Shine Jacob
Notes:
Fatalities data for Reliance Industries for FY17 was not disclosed
Fatalities data fro JSW Steel in FY16 was not readily available
Source: Company Sustainability reports, News reports
On Tuesday, share price of SAIL at the BSE fell by over 1.60 per cent or Rs 1.05 from its previous close to Rs 63.45.
