At least six people have been killed and 17 injured in an explosion on Wednesday at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation thermal power plant in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.
News agency ANI attributed the casualty figures to Sree Abhinav, the Cuddalore superintendent of Police.
The blast at the Neyveli Lignite plant happened on Wednesday morning. The mishap occurred at the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II (210 MW x 7) when workers were in the process of resuming operations in the morning. R. Vikraman, a plant official, told NDTV that 10 of the injured were contractual employees of Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
"Two men died on the spot. Some workers are feared trapped and 16 others have sustained injuries," an official told PTI soon after the incident.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident at Neyveli and promised all help to the Tamil Nadu government. Shah tweeted, "Anguished to learn about the loss of lives due to a blast at Neyveli power plant boiler in Tamil Nadu. Have spoken to @CMOTamilNadu and assured all possible help. @CISFHQrs is already on the spot to assist the relief work."
This is the second boiler accident in Neyveli Lignite Corporation in two months. In May, eight workers were injured in a boiler blast at the plant.
