Four workers were seriously injured in the Rourkela Steel Plant premises as gas leaked out of the plant’s Blast Furnace-5 PCI-II unit on Wednesday evening.
The injured Satyajit Solapuri, Meghnath Tandia, Sivlal Kachhap and Sreeram Anil were contact workers engaged at the RSP by the Biswal & Brothers Enterprises. They received 40 to 45 per cent burn injuries and have been admitted in the Ispat General Hospital (IGH). Their condition is stated to be critical, sources said.
Meanwhile, CITU leader Biman Maity has blamed the plant authorities for the accident. He said the accident occurred due to lapses in safety measures and improper maintenance. He also alleged that the hospital authorities have concealed the fact that the four have received 70 per cent injures at the behest of RSP management.
Similarly, leaders of RSS, SEAR, BMS and AITUC have blamed the RSP management for the incident demanded free treatment and adequate compensation for victims.
“It is disappointing that plant authorities remained callous despite accidents are repeatedly occurring at the Blast Furnace 5. This incident has once again raised question on the safety of the workers inside the plant,” they said.
Source said warmed air and coal dust are supplied to the furnace through PCI (Pulverised Coal Injection Unit) to provide heat to the furnace. The jam in the PCI had been detected and intimated to the in-charge officers much before. But they didn’t repair it and, hence, the accident occurred. The RSP CEO has given an inquiry order, sources added.