File picture of the blast site at Bhushan steel plant

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 16: At least five foreigners have gone missing following the blast furnace accident that took place at Bhusan steel plant in Dhenkanal district on November 13.

All of them were employed in the plant and were present during the commissioning of the blast furnace No. 2.

Labour and employees’ state insurance minister Bijayshree Routray said: “Of the five, two were from Thailand and three from China. We are trying to find out what has happened to them.”

Though company officials claimed that only one person had died in the accident, an official source said on the condition of anonymity that more than eight people had been killed.

The relatives of the missing persons started reaching the plant site today and demanded that company reveal the details about the missing employees. However, company officials maintained silence over the issue.

A scientific team also started gathering valuable information and seized some body parts, which is likely to give more insight into the accident.

The minister also said it had been quite difficult to ascertain the number of persons present during the accident.

“As the company is procuring the labourers through various agencies and contractors, it is difficult to know the exact number of labourers who were present at the time of the blast. The company’s records in this regard are not transparent,” said labour commissioner Shalini Pandit.

The state government is now trying to get the muster rolls and identity cards of workers to find out their exact number in the plant. A team has also been formed comprising a magistrate, senior police officers, members of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and Employee’s State Insurance Corporation officials to examine the security measures adopted by the company.

BJP leaders Bijay Mohapatra and Samir Dey went to the plant site today to express their solidarity with the labourers who were protesting against the silence of the company over the issue of the missing employees.