6 killed, 31 hospitalised of poisonous gas leak in Bhilai Steel Plant

     Bhilai, June 13, 2014: At least six industrial workers were killed and 31 injured due to leakage of poisonous gas in Bhilai Steel Plant of Chhattisgarh, factory management said today.

     “Due to leakage of poisonous gas from one of the blast furnaces on late yesterday evening, six people are killed and many injured,” Chief Spokesman of the government of India owned steel plant Vijay Mairal said.

     “In that incident at least 31 people were also affected, out of which six people are in serious condition and admitted in the intensive care unit and the rest in the general wards of the local hospital,” said Mairal, who is the Deputy General Manager and Chief of Communication of the Bhilai Steel Plant.

     Although he avoided a direct question how many industrial workers were on the spot when the incident took place, but the Chief Spokesman said due to leakage of carbon mono oxide gas from one of the blast furnace they were affected.

     “Due to leakage of carbon mono oxide gas from one of the blast furnaces the incident took place yesterday evening,” Mairal said.

     “How the incident took place would be probed but presently the priority of the management is to provide all assistance to the affected people and their families,” he said.

     Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) is the flag ship company of the Steel Authority of Indian Limited.

      BSP is the sole supplier of the country’s longest rail tracks of 260 metres. With an annual production capacity of 3.153 MT of saleable steel, BSP is located in Bhilai city of Durg district, about 40 kilometre from capital Raipur.