New Delhi: Nineteen people have suffered burns and fractures after a steam leak at the Tata Steel plant in Meramandali in Dhenkanal, Odisha.
The injured were moved to Cuttack’s Ashwini Hospital. Dr Subrat Jena said all patients had suffered burns. He said one person had been burnt over 70 per cent while another six around 40 per cent. “Two also have fractures,” he told news agency ANI.
Tata Steel said in a statement: “We are saddened to report an accident at the BFPP2 power plant due to escape of steam at Tata Steel Meramandali Works in Dhenkanal, Odisha.” The company did not confirm the number of injured.
The company said that the accident took place around 1 pm Tuesday “during the course of the inspection work and has affected few people working at the site”. It said the injured were immediately taken to the occupational health centre inside the plant premises “and then to Cuttack for further treatment, as a precautionary measure, in the company’s ambulance, accompanied by doctor and paramedics”.
They were also “closely working with relevant authorities on ground and have initiated an internal investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident”. “Safety remains our top priority and we’re committed to learning from this incident. We will share updates as and when more details are available,” Tata Steel said.
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