NTPC boiler blast: Death toll mounts to 30; Rahul Gandhi visits Unchahar plant

New Delhi:

Leaving his Gujarat tour midway, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday arrived in Rae Bareli to meet the families of NTPC boiler blast victims.

Rahul Gandhi visited injured in Rae Bareli district hospital. He will also visit the NTPC plant in Unchahar where the tragic incident happened.

Earleir on Wednesday, Rahul expressing his grief had said, "My heart is pained by the Rae Bareli NTPC incident and my condolences to the family of deceased. Request authorities to provide immidiete help to all the injured."

In a tragic incident, 30 people died and over 100 were injured after a boiler went off at NTPC’s Unchahar plant in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh. Rae Bareli is the constituency of Rahul’s mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Here are the live updates:

# Rahul also met the kin of deceased in NTPC boiler explosion. He was also accompanied by Ghulam Nabi Azad.

# Rahul Gandhi at NTPC's Unchahar plant where a boiler exploded yesterday, met Union Power Minister RK Singh at the spot as well #Raebareli

# UP health minister Siddhrath Nath Singh to visit injured at 3 PM.

# Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Dinesh Sharma reaches Unchahar NTPC plant.

# Locals and family members of NTPC injured and deaceased gherao Raebareli CDO office. Demand entry of media persons into the NTPC plant.

# Significant number of NTPC workers admitted in various hospitals have suffered more than 60% burnt injuries. 

# UP Police forms green corridor tio aide speedy transportation of injured NTPC workers.

#Government releases list of deaceased.

# Death toll increases to 30. confirmes Uttar Pradesh chief secretary. 

# NTPC announces 8 Lakh compensation for deceased in boiler balst incident. 

# Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Rae Bareli district hospital to meet injured.

# PM also approves Rs. 50,000 each for those injured due to the accident at NTPC plant in Raebareli.

# PM approves ex- gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at NTPC plant in Raebareli.

 

#WATCH Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Rae Bareli district hospital to meet those injured in #NTPCExplosion. pic.twitter.com/9hiEjpmkwr

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 2, 2017

 

According to NTPC press release the incident occurred at unit no. 6 of the plant. The press release reads, “Around 3:30pm, an opening was created in the boiler at the height of 20 feet. Flue gas and steam spread in the area leading to injury and deaths.”

The state government has released three helpline numbers (0535-2703301, 0535-2703401 and 0535-2703201.) The Uttar Pradesh government had pressed in 50 ambulances in the plant and all major hospitals in neighbouring districts have been kept in high alert.

Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) talking to media said, "Our primary objective is to rescue people and provide immediate medical treatment."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister taking cognizance of the incident has directed Principal Secretary Home to ensure all possible steps to rescue the labourers.

Yogi on Wednesday had announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family members of the labourers who lost their lives in the boiler blast and Rs 50 thousand for labourers who are injured grievously and Rs 25 thousand for other injured workers.

A team of 32 persons of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Unchahar from Lucknow to support in rescue works.

The state government has ordered a probe the cause behind the NTPC boiler burst incident. Sources told the media that the blasted occurred after ash was collected in the boiler.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the incident and tweeted, "Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored & officials are ensuring normalcy is restored"

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