RSP gas tragedy: Another senior official suspended

Rourkela: Another senior official of the Rourkela Steel  Plant (RSP) was placed under suspension today in connection with the gas mishap that claimed four lives at the plant yesterday.

Assistant Manager (Safety) Smruti Ranjan Sahu has been suspended by the RSP CEO for his alleged negligence of duties. Yesterday, the authorities had suspended two Deputy General Manager (DGM) rank officials- Gopabandhu Barik of EMD Department and Nabendu Das of CCD Mechanical Department over the mishap.

Four workers died while six others fell sick following leakage of toxic gas at the Coal Chemicals Department of RSP last morning. A total of 10 workers engaged at the plant contractually by a private construction company were affected due to the leakage of carbon monoxide gas. While six of the victims were taken to the RSP dispensary, four workers-Ganesh Chandra Paila (55), Rabindra Sahu (59), Abhimanyu Sah (33) and Brahmananda Panda (51), were admitted to the ICU of the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) as their condition deteriorated. They later died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

A high-level committee was later formed for an inquiry into the mishap.