Berhampur/Sambalpur, May 11: Eight employees of a private company sustained burn injuries when fire broke out at a under construction ferrochrome plant at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district, nearly 18 km from here, today.
The first unit of the 55,000 tonne per annum ferrochrome plant is being set up by Tata Steel and is expected to become operational by July. Tata Steel sources said the work at the site was stopped today following the mishap.
Four of those injured are in critical condition and have been shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital. Four others are being treated at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital. The injured belonged to a private company engaged by the Tata Steel.
An official release of the Tata Steel said: "There was a fire incident at the fabrication yard site office of Adroid Engineering at Gopalpur Ferrochrome project site today at about 7.30 am. The fire incident took place when about eight workers tried to light incandescent sticks to perform puja in the cabin office, which had a leaking LPG gas cylinder, leading to a sudden flash of fire and burn injuries to all the eight persons within the office."
"The flash was restricted to the container office only. It was not a blast with no impact on surroundings," the release added.
Fire officer at Chhatrapur Bishi Pradhan, who inspected the spot, said gas had leaked from the LPG cylinder leading to the fire. No case has been registered.
The four critically injured persons are Sujaya Dhara, Santosh Ray, welder Bhanu Pratap and technician Vijay. All of them sustained burn injuries in their face, hands and legs.
"However, the condition of Bhanu Pratap is serious," said fitter D. Mohan Rao, 35, who along with helpers Subhankar Manna, 32, Ajaya Dhar, 32, and Rahul Kumar Sharma, 20, are undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
Hindalco arrest
Sambalpur Police on Sunday arrested two employees of Hindalco for the mishap at the company's aluminium plant at Hirakud, around 15 km from Sambalpur, in which four workers were injured on May 7.
Four contractual workers had sustained injuries when molten aluminium spilled in the plant on May 7.
The officials, who were arrested, include senior manager Rabi Narayana Pandey and assistant manager Chinmaya Keshari Badjena.
The workers had gone to the smelter plant for maintenance work on May 7. However, molten aluminium spilled from the pot and fell on the workers, resulting in injuries to four of t hem.
Two of them - Satya Narayan Panda and Bijaya Ghosh - sustained critical injuries and were shifted to Bhubaneshwar for treatment.
"The two officials were booked under section 287 and 337 of IPC, (acts of negligence)" said inspector in-charge of Hirakud police station Sabitri Bala.
"It was an unfortunate incident. The workers, who were shifted to Bhubaneswar for medical care, are convalescing," said deputy general manager, corporate communication of the Hindalco Industries Limited, Sivananda Mohanty.
