Bhilai, Nov 30: On Friday, three executives of Bhilai Steel Plant were arrested by Police in the case of BSP Gas-line Mishap which occurred on October 09 and had claimed thirteen lives. Two General Managers and one Deputy General Manager rank officer were arrested by Bhatti Police Station. Their statements were recorded and later they were released on bail from the police station itself. General Manager (Coke Ovens and Coal Chemical Department and Factory Manager) GN Venkat Subramanyam; General Manager (Safety) T Pandyaraja and DGM (Energy Management Department) Naveen Kumar were arrested on the day. Executive Director (Works) PK Das is also to be arrested in connection with this case. As he is on leave at present, Police will arrest him later on.
It needs to be mentioned here that FIR has been registered at Bhilai Bhatti Police Station against four executives of Bhilai Steel Plant on charges of negligent conduct of machinery (Section 287 of IPC); Causing death by negligence (Section 304-A of IPC) and Causing grievous hurt by act of endangering life or personal safety of others (Section 338 of IPC). Charges are being framed against Executive Director (Works) PK Das; General Manager (Coke Ovens and Coal Chemical Department and Factory Manager) GN Venkat Subramanyam; General Manager (Safety) T Pandyaraja and DGM (Energy Management Department) Naveen Kumar.
It could be recollected here that a major mishap had occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant on October 09 during De-blanking of Fringe Joints of Gaslines near column number 50 of Coke Ovens. The action plan was chalked out by a group of top officials during a meeting held on October 08 but the scope of threats was not assessed properly. Consequently, a fire mishap occurred and the personnel of Energy Management Department and Fire Brigade suffered fatal burns. Nine of the personnel were charred to death on the spot while five others succumbed during treatment at the hospital.
The first investigation over the mishap was conducted by the Deputy Director (Industrial Health and Safety) KK Dwivedi. The preliminary reports state that the foresaid officials neglected the safety measures for execution of this task and the risk assessment was also not done properly. On the basis of this report and its own investigation, Bhatti Police is taking action over this disastrous incident.