6 injured in steel plant explosion in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: At least six workers sustained critical injuries in an explosion at a steel plant in Dhenkanal district of Odisha today.

The injured were identified as Bimbadhar Behera, Aditya Bhootia, Manoj Kesi, Chinmaya Mahakul, Sushil and Birendra Dhal.  They have been admitted to a private hospital at Banarpal in Angul, sources said.

An explosion took place at a furnace of GM Iron and Steel Company at Kulei under Parjang Tehsil of Dhenkanal in the evening. At least six workers sustained critical injuries in the incident, said a source.

The company authorities reportedly closed the main gate of the steel plant soon after the incident, sources added.

On being informed, Parjang police reached the steel plant and launched a probe into the incident.

The company authorities, meanwhile, said the workers sustained injuries after they came in contact with the fumes of molten iron during maintenance work at the furnace. The injured workers have been shifted to a hospital, they added.