20 killed as chimney of BALCO plant collapses

“Twenty bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue operations are continuing,” police headquarters spokesman and Inspector General of Police R K Vij said on Wednesday night.

“The debris of the mammoth chimney fell over an area of 300 metres crushing everything under it. It is feared that more than 50 people could be trapped inside. Hundreds of people are engaged in the rescue operation,” senior journalist Gendlal Shukla told The Indian Express over telephone from the accident site. “Though searchlights have been installed,the rescue operation could take about 24 hours. There is every possibility of the death toll going up,” he added.

There were reports that after the accident agitated workers manhandled staff of Gannon Dunkerley and Company Limited,which is engaged in the construction of the chimney. There were unconfirmed reports of an employee being killed in the backlash.

Chief Minister Raman Singh has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the family of those killed. He said cases would be registered against the factory management and all others concerned while the state government would bear all expenses for the treatment of the injured.

BALCO general manager (Corporate Communications) B K Shrivastav told The Indian Express that the injured were being treated at the BALCO hospital where all doctors and paramedical staff had been pressed into service for emergency duty. He said the management was taking all necessary steps to provide relief to the injured.

Official sources said the power plant was being constructed by the Chinese firm SEPCO,which had,in turn,entrusted the work of the construction of two of its chimneys,having a height of 275 metres each,to Gannon Dunkerley and Company.