Post News Network
Talcher, August 4: Thirty labourers of Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) here in Angul district had a providential escape Tuesday after ash from a hopper fell on them during drainage. They remained buried for some time before 12 of them were rescued by the jawans of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) while the rest of them struggled hard and managed to rescue themselves.
Recurrence of such incidents has raised serious questions on the security of labourers engaged in the plant owned by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPS). The incident triggered tension among the labourers on the plant premises. The incident occurred when the plant authorities suddenly opened the ash hopper of the fifth unit to drain out excess ash without having a look at the 30 labourers working underneath. The ash gushed out and fell on the labourers of PC Sarkar consultancy agency.
Unaware, the labourers found no time to escape and were buried under the stream of ash. The incident triggered panic as all other labourers ran helter-skelter for cover.
On being informed, CISF jawans rushed to the spot and rescued 12 labourers while the rest struggled hard and managed to come out of the ash heap. It is alleged that the ash discharged is to the tune of five truckloads.
All the labourers were rendered critical and complained of severe breathlessness. They were admitted to the TTPS hospital and with oxygen and drips.
After reports surfaced, the consultancy agency and TTPS authorities in their bid to hush up the matter whisked away the labourers to an undisclosed location after preliminary treatment.
The labourers alleged when the rule allows discharge of ash at night or after vacating the area, the authorities chose to drain it out during daytime when the labourers were working at the site.
According to reports, about six contractual labourers sustained critical injuries after hot ash fell on them on the plant premises in the recent past.
