KEONJHAR/BHUBANESWAR: At least 13 workers were injured, five of them seriously, after the crucible of KJS Alhuwalia Sponge Iron Plant exploded in Keonjhar district on Friday.
The injured were rushed to TISCO Hospital at Joda. Five of the workers, who suffered severe burn injuries, were later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Their condition is critical.
The KJS Alhuwalia Sponge Iron Plant is located under Rugudi police limits on the bordering areas of Keonjhar and Sundargarh. It is about 40 km from Barbil and 130 km from Keonjhar town.
The explosion was reported at 8.45 am when 13 labourers were working in the plant. All of them were injured by the molten metals strewn from the furnace.
Sources said the mishap occurred shortly after the shift change at 8.30 am. The crucible was being heated up when a puncture led entry of water from cooling coils into the refractories. The interaction of water with the hot air led to combustion of hydrogen in huge volume and the roof of the crucible was blasted by molten metal. The molten materials were sprinkled on at least four workers who were standing at a height above the crucible. They received the maximum injuries. The rest nine who were working near the unit also suffered burn injuries.
Soon after the mishap, workers gathered in front of the premises and raised a banner of protest following which the functioning of plant was shut down. Police rushed to the place to diffuse tension.
Keonjhar SP Rajesh Uttamrao Pandit also visited Rugudi to take stock of the situation. “The injured have been shifted to Joda and Cuttack and a case will be registered against the plant authorities for negligence. We will also look at what safety measures were taken,” Pandit said. The Sub-Divisional Police Officer was camping at the spot while one platoon of force has been deployed. The Factories and Boilers Inspector of Jajpur also inspected the plant. This is not the first mishap in KJS Alhuwalia plant. Seven to eight months back, another accident had been reported at the sponge iron unit. Labourers had also complained about absence of adequate safety precautions, gears and training at the work place.