Cylinder blast kills 3, injures 16 near Aligarh

Security personnel at the site of the explosion on Saturday. (Source: PTI)

At least three people were killed and 16 seriously injured in an explosion at the Harduagunj Thermal Power Station at Kasimpur near Aligarh. Officials admitted that the death count might increase after DNA testing of the human remains at the explosion site.

The deceased have been identified as Mohd Imran Khan, 28, and Sohrab Khan, 22, from Bihar. The third victim has not been identified yet. “Three individuals have been confirmed dead and 16 people have been injured. However, it is possible that the death toll might increase. Forensic and medical evidence, including DNA tests, will be required to confirm whether the body parts left behind at the site after the blast belonged to one body or many,” said Balkar Singh, district magistrate, Aligarh.

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The DM added that the administration hasn’t yet been able to confirm the total number of workers who were at the site during the accident.

The explosion took at place at 9.05 am on Saturday, but 12 hours later, there was little clarity about the cause of the explosion. “We were told that repair work was going on when the explosion took place. We haven’t been told anything else. Our night shifts have been cancelled,” said Ramesh Yadav, a worker at the plant.

Mohd Chand, a worker who was present at the power station when the accident took place, described the explosion site and said, “There was nothing left. The entire room smelt of burnt flesh and body parts had to be collected in order for the place to be cleared.”

“Prima facie, the blast seems to have been caused by an LPG cylinder exploding. There was some welding work going on. It’s possible there was a leak, which led to the blast. We have also initiated a magisterial inquiry into the case which will confirm the exact cause,” added Singh.
A senior engineer at the plant said, “It seems to be a result of a leak during the welding.” After the blast, the power plant was cordoned off as a precautionary measure, said officials.

Even though officials of the district administration reached the spot after the accident, protests broke out at the thermal power plant with workers alleging that safety regulations weren’t followed.

Source:: Indian Express