Rourkela: The rescue team has failed to trace four out of the five thieves who were reportedly missing from the disposal tunnel of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).
Even after 12 days have passed since the incident, only one body has been recovered so far.
The team has been into rescue operation for the past six days, but there was no significant improvement in the search. While five thieves had gone missing June 3, the matter came to the fore six days ago after the family members of the thieves lodged a complaint with the Uditnagar police.
Since then, the rescue team comprising RSP technical officials, fire tenders and local police have been trying to trace the bodies.
Meanwhile, the digging of the tunnel has spread foul smell in the area, triggering resentment among locals.
The rescue team has also blocked the Deogaon-Sarana square road, hampering the movement of locals.
According to sources, as many as nine thieves had strayed into the RSP premises through the tunnel to steal steel scraps. Four of them were suffocated and trapped inside the tunnel while trying to come out after committing the loot. In the process to rescue them, another youth also got trapped inside the tunnel June 3.
PNN
