New Delhi: At least four workers have died at Steel Authority of India Limited's (SAIL) Rourkela plant on Wednesday after inhaling a toxic gas that leaked from one of the units of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in Odisha. The news was confirmed by SAIL in an official statement where it said, "In an unfortunate incident at SAIL Rourkela Steel Plant, four contract workers engaged at the Plant's Coal Chemicals Department (CCD) have succumbed to a suspected gas leakage incident."
"The workers felt unwell at around 9 AM on 06.01.2021 and were immediately rushed to the ICU of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) at Rourkela for treatment. SAIL family is deeply saddened by the loss of lives and stand strong with the affected families at this time of grief," it added.
A high-level committee has been formed to inquire into the cause of the incident and all emergency protocols have been immediately activated at the plant. According to preliminary reports, the four workers inhaled Carbon Monoxide. The cause of the gas leak is not yet known.
The deceased have been identified as Ganesh Chandra Paila (59), Abhimanyu Sahu (33), Rabindra Sahu (59) and Brahmananda Panda (51). They worked for a maintenance contractor firm Star Construction. Even though media reports claimed that other employees have been impacted by the gas leak, a spokesperson for SAIL's RSP said that only four employees were present at the site of the accident.
SAIL shares were at Rs 76 apiece, down 2.5 percent, against the closing price of Rs 77.95 on January 5. During the day's trade, the stock hit an intraday low and high of Rs 79.15 and Rs 75.20, respectively.
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Telegram. Join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram and stay updated)