Toll in the National Thermal Power Corporation’s Unchahar plant tragedy rose to 33 on Friday with the death of NTPC assistant general manager Sanjiv Sharma. More than 50 injured are still being treated in various hospitals in lucknow, Rae Bareli and other places. Sharma succumbed to his injuries late Thursday night.
According to sources, on late Thursday night seven more critically injured patients were airlifted to Delhi for treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. Four-five more would, probably, be referred to Delhi hospital today.
NTPC’s director (finance) Kulmani Vishwal said on Friday that all the injured are being provided medical treatment on priority basis and all possible help were being provided to the families of those killed and injured in the tragedy.
Chief Medical Superintendent of Jhalkari Bai (Civil Hospital) hospital in lucknow Dr A K Singh said 30 people were admitted to his hospital, out of which five succumbed to burn injuries. Seven injured were referred to Delhi while two were referred to lohia Hospital in lucknow. The remaining are being treated for various degrees of burns.
The NTPC has set up a probe panel headed by its executive director SK Roy. The panel will look into the causes of the blast and is likely to submit its report in a month. NTPC has termed the blast incident at the Unchahar thermal power station as “the rarest kind of incident”. The NTPC sources said it will take nearly 3-6 months to put the 550 MW units back on track.
The findings of the preliminary probe indicate that adequate safety measures were not in place. Senior engineers of NTPC who inspected the site feel that the boiler burst due to poor safety measures.
NTPC sources said a high boiler pressure fluctuation caused the blast which occurred in the duct that transfers ash of burnt coal. Sources suggest the ash pipe in the duct connected to the boiler was choked, causing the blast. The coal powder which was pumped into the furnace developed a ‘clinker formation,’ which choked the valves. As workers on spot tried to break the clinkers, the coal supply got disrupted and the disruption and ash accumulation disturbed boiler pressure, which rose. This boiler was commissioned in a record time of 30 months in April earlier this year.
The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday had issued notice to UP chief secretary non Thursday and sought report within six weeks. The NHRC has directed the government to look into the matter and see the families of the deceased are suitably compensated by monetary relief, without any delays. It has also asked the government to ensure that the best treatment is provided to the injured persons and steps are taken to rehabilitate them.