Bhilai, Apr 05: Eight workmen of Bhilai Steel Plant including a contract worker suffered burns in an industrial mishap which occurred at Steel Melting Shop # 1 on Friday morning. Hot metal was being tapped when three simultaneous blasts occurred and hot metal splashed out of the hearth. The splinters even shattered the control room glasses and injured the employees working there. The splinters got spread in the radius of 20 meters. Fortunately there was no one near the hearth; else it could have turned into a major tragedy. The intensity of blast was low as the entire hot metal was already tapped and only a little amount was left in the furnace for tapping. Condition of all the victims is stated to be out of danger. They are recuperating at the Burn Unit of JLN Hospital & Research Centre, Sector 9.
According to information provided by BSP’s Public Relations Department, the incident occurred at around 11:55 hrs on Friday. The right hearth of twin hearth furnace #2 of Steel Melting Shop # 1 (SMS #1) at Bhilai Steel Plant developed sudden pressure, because of which a portion of the roof got damaged and hot dust and splinters spread near the furnace area. This caused patchy burn injury to 8 persons working around the furnace area at that time. All the affected persons were immediately taken to the Plant’s Main Medical Post by ambulance, given first-aid and shifted to the Plant’s JLN Hospital. All affected persons are out of danger. Leaders of various trade unions, Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav, BJP MP Candidate Vijay Baghel and others reached the hospital to inquire about the health of victims.
The affected persons include Karamchand Suman (59), skilled contractual worker, who suffered 15% burns on forehead; Sanjay Narain Rai (51), Senior Technician, suffered 15% burns on Right Ear, Left Knee and abdomen; CH Ramkrishna Rao (47), Asst Mgr, suffered 3% burns on side neck; G Ishwar (46), Operative, suffered 12% burns on both arms; TP Harmukh (54), Operative, suffered 5% burns on left foot and left ring finer; S M Singh (43), Senior Operative, suffered 9% burns upper back, neck, left arm and fore head; SP Diwan (51), Junior Officer, suffered 20% burns with multiple burn injuries at back and Tilak Ram (52), Senior Operative, suffered 15% burns on left neck, left palm, and left foot.
Bhilai Steel Plant management is reported to have constituted an investigation committee to explore the causes of this mishap. This committee would be led by GM (Maintenance and Utility) Kamlendu Das. GM (Projects) SK Mehta and DGM (Safety) VK Srivastava will be the members of this committee.
On the other hand, senior officials of Railways and SAIL Chairman were on a visit to Bhilai Steel Plant on the day. Vishwesh Chaube (Member Engineering, Railway Board) accompanied by senior officials of Indian Railways including BP Awasthi (Executive Director, Track, Railway Board); Nilmani (Executive Director, RDSO); SAIL Chairman Anil Kumar Chaudhary and Harinand Rai (Director, Technical, SAIL) were inspecting the rail making facilities in the Bhilai Steel Plant when this mishap occurred at Steel Melting Shop # 1.