Keonjhar: The district police have registered criminal cases against officials of a steel plant unit and some truck drivers and transporters for endangering the safety of commuters and motorists by "unsafe ore transportation".

"Pellets are being strewn across the highways during ore transportation in the mineral-rich district. Despite repeated warnings, the transporters are not adhering to safety measures - such as covering the goods-laden trucks. We have initiated legal action against the offenders as the safety of the people is at stake," said Keonjhar police superintendent Rajesh Pandit.

He added that the NH-20 was in a precarious state.

Cases have been registered against G. Suresh, the head of the Barbil unit of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, and some truck drivers and transporters for unsafe transportation of ore.

Pellets dumped on the road by the ore-transporting vehicles are believed to be the major cause of road accidents in the area.