Chhattisgarh Steel Plant Accident; Three Bodies Recovered, Demands for Compensation Escalate
Raipur
In a tragic incident at a steel plant in Mungeli, Chhattisgarh, four individuals lost their lives on Friday. After 36 hours of continuous rescue efforts, the massive iron silo (a heavy storage tank) was removed late Friday night at around 11 PM. Three bodies, including that of an engineer, were recovered from the debris in the early hours of Saturday, while one worker succumbed to injuries during treatment earlier.
Post-mortem examinations were conducted, but the victims’ families have refused to take possession of the bodies. Relatives of two deceased workers are demanding compensation of Rs 50 lakh, while the family of engineer Jayant Sahu has demanded Rs 1 crore along with a government job for a family member.
The bereaved families staged a sit-in protest at the hospital, accusing the company and administration of exerting undue pressure. A significant police force has been deployed at the site to prevent escalation. Patharia SDM Bharosa Ram Thakur assured that efforts are being made to provide financial aid as per government and company policies. However, the assurance of Rs 15 lakh as compensation has sparked further anger among the families.
The accident occurred at Kusum Smelters Private Limited, a plant operational since August 2020, employing over 350 workers to produce crude iron. Preliminary investigations by the industry department revealed negligence by the plant management, including overloading the silo beyond its capacity, leading to its collapse.
Based on the findings, the Saragaon police have filed an FIR against the operation manager, Anil Prasad, plant in-charge Amit Kedia, and others. The district collector has assured strict action against those found guilty following further investigation.
The rescue operation, led by Collector Rahul Dev and SP Bhojram Patel, involved SDRF and NDRF teams. Due to the silo’s immense weight, specialized cranes from Bhilai and Bilaspur with capacities of 400 and 250 tons were brought in. Despite initial failures, the silo was eventually removed after reducing its weight using gas cutters.
Engineer Jayant Sahu, a resident of Sarkanda Jabdapara, was among the victims. His wife is inconsolable, and their two sons, aged 18 and 12, are struggling to cope with the loss.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao visited the site post-rescue and assured support to the victims’ families. He pledged strict action under the Factory Act and emphasized the government’s commitment to providing assistance.
The plant and surrounding areas have been heavily barricaded and turned into a virtual fortress amid fears of protests and unrest.
