Ramgarh, Aug 22: Three engineers were killed and another person was seriously injured after an explosion triggered a fire at a cement and steel power plant in Ramgarh district, officials and local sources said.The incident occurred last night at the Maa Chhinnamastika Cement and Steel Power Plant in Hehal, under the Barkakana police outpost area.
The deceased were identified as Sanjeev Kumar Kesari of Ranchi, Vineet Mahto of Bokaro and Abhishek Pandey of Garhwa.According to preliminary information, the explosion occurred in a turbine following a suspected failure of its protection mechanism amid high temperatures. The turbine reportedly oversped before the blast, leading to a fire at the facility.Several fire tenders were rushed to the plant after the incident was reported.
Firefighters subsequently brought the blaze under control after sustained efforts.Plant workers have alleged that concerns regarding high temperatures in the control room and inadequate cooling arrangements had previously been brought to the management’s attention. The allegations are yet to be independently verified.
Following the incident, local residents and villagers blocked the Ramgarh-Patratu road, demanding compensation for the victims’ families and employment for their dependents.
Police and plant management representatives held discussions with the protesters as efforts were made to address their demands and restore normal traffic movement.The exact cause of the explosion and any possible lapses in safety measures are expected to be established through a detailed investigation.
