The blast took place in a pipeline near coke oven section of the plant in Bhilai town.
Raipur: Thirteen people were killed and 14 injured in a gas pipeline blast in Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district on Tuesday. The blast took place in a pipeline near coke oven section of the plant in Bhilai town, located around 30 km from the state capital Raipur, a local police official said.
Twelve people sustained severe burns in the explosion and were immediately rushed to the hospital. Later, six people succumbed to their injuries.
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
Police personnel and a rescue team rushed to the spot, an official said.
In 2014, too, the plant had seen a major accident when a gas leak resulted in the death of six people, including two senior officials. Over 50 people were affected by the accident. A breakdown in the water pump house caused a leak of the poisonous gas carbon monoxide, which infiltrated the premises due to pressure differences along the purification chamber lines.
The Bhilai Steel Plant, managed by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has won the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best best-integrated plant in the country 11 times.
The most profitable production facility of SAIL, the Bhilai steel plant was set up in 1955 with the help of erstwhile Soviet Union.
