NLC blast death toll rises to 12; NTPC’s ex-Director Technical to head inquiry

• In the wake of the second blast incident, NLC's Director (Power) Shaji John was asked to go on leave and the Unit Head of TPS-II was placed under suspension

• The Ministry of coal has also instituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by NTPC's former Director (Technical) PK Mohapatra, to look into the cause of the incident

New Delhi: Six people, who were injured in the recent blast incident at state-run NLC (Neyveli Lignite Corporation), have died, taking the total death toll from the incident to 12. An official spokesperson for NLC told PSU Watch that one person passed away on July 3, two died on July 5 and three more succumbed to burn injuries on July 6. He added that three people who were injured in the incident are currently on the ventilator.

The blast had taken place on July 1, in which six people were killed and 16 were injured. The blast had taken place at the same TPS (thermal power station) of NLC where it took place the last time in May in which two people had died and eight were injured, as was reported by PSU Watch. While the recent has taken place at Unit V of TPS-II of NLC, the May blast had taken place at Unit VI of the same station. A source, who spoke to PSU Watch on the condition of anonymity, had claimed that the death toll could go up as many people have been injured critically. 

NLC Director (Power) asked to go on leave

In the wake of the second blast incident, NLC's Director (Power) Shaji John was asked to go on leave and the Unit Head of TPS-II was placed under suspension on July 4, an official statement released by the Ministry of Coal had said. The ministry has also instituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by NTPC's former Director (Technical) PK Mohapatra, to look into the cause of the incident. Meanwhile, all the four units of the 210 MW each of TPS-II Stage -II have been shut down for safety audit.

NLC blast occurred as engineering staff, workers were trying to revive Unit V

According to sources, the Unit V of TPS II had shut down after tripping on June 30 night. "The workers and engineering staff were attempting to revive the unit when a fire reportedly broke out in the boiler, resulting in the explosion," sources said. The incident occurred around 10 am on July 1.

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