More than a month after 41 people were killed in a power plant chimney collapse in Korba, two Chinese engineers have been named as accused, even as a top official of the Vedanta Resources controlled-Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) remains “untraceable”. Ching Wang and O Lieu, engineers of Chinese firm SEPCO Power Construction Corp — to which BALCO had awarded contract for the construction of 1200 MW power plant at BALCO Nagar — have been named in the case. “Both of them are in Korba. Appropriate steps would be taken after questioning them,” Korba SP Ratanlal Dangi said.

Meanwhile, BALCO vice-president Viral Mehta has not reported for investigations into the mishap. “A police party has been sent to Mehta’s hometown in Gujarat but they haven’t got any information. We have written to the BALCO management seeking information on him”, SP Dangi said. Police sources said a Korba court had earlier rejected Mehta’s application for anticipatory bail on October 15.

The judicial commission probing the incident will formally start its proceedings later this week.