The death toll in the Sail Bhilai Steel Plant gas leak incident rose to seven on Friday, after the recovery of body of a contractor.
The death toll rose even as the state government ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
“A magisterial inquiry, headed by the Durg Additional District Magistrate, has been ordered into yesterday’s incident,” Durg Collector R Sangeetha said today.
Later today, Union Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is due to visit the steel plant.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed grief over the tragedy and offered condolences.
PM assured @drramansingh of all necessary assistance for rescue & relief operations, treatment for those affected due to incident in Bhilai.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh also tweeted after speaking to the PM: PM Shri @narendramodi ji expressed deep grief for the deceased & discussed in detail relief & rescue operations being undertaken.
Among the seven killed at the steel plant located in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district include two Deputy General Managers.
The incident happened at 6:30 pm yesterday when poisonous gas leaked from blast furnace-GCP due to breakdown in a water pump.
Initially, as many as 34 people were taken to the nearby Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and Research Centre in Sector-9, Bhilai, after they fell ill upon inhaling the poisonous gas, the Durg Collector said.
Five of them, including two DGM rank officials, died during treatment while the body of a worker, Vikas Verma, was found after de-watering the pump house where the mishap occurred, she added.
