Neyveli boiler blast: ₹30 lakh relief announced for kin of deceased

After a boiler exploded in Neyveli thermal power station at Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district on Wednesday (July 1) morning, claiming six lives and leaving 23 injured, compensations of ₹30 lakh and ₹5 lakh were announced on Thursday (July 2) for the families of those who died and those who were injured, respectively, by the government-owned NLC India Limited.

NLC India Limited, the power plant where one of the boilers exploded, also ordered a high-level enquiry into the cause of the accident on July 1, besides, an Internal Enquiry Committee with senior executives headed by Director (Power) of NLCIL.

The unit head of thermal power station-II is placed under suspension pending enquiry by the management. All the four units of 210 MW each of thermal power station-II stage II have been ordered to shut down by the authorities for immediate safety audit.

A high-level enquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident, apart from an Internal Enquiry Committee with senior executives headed by Director (Power) of NLCIL. Unit head of Thermal Power Station-II suspended pending enquiry: NLC India Limited, #Neyveli #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/XTHGsYAOiN

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2020

At around 9:45 am on July 1, the fire broke out in the boiler area subsequent to the explosion, resulting in injuries to the NLCIL maintenance team. Out of the 23 injured, six workmen belonging to a contractor succumbed to injuries on the spot.

Tamil Nadu: Explosion at a boiler in stage -2 of the Neyveli lignite plant. 17 injured persons taken to NLC lignite hospital. Visuals from the spot. More details awaited. https://t.co/jtaOudE9P0 pic.twitter.com/FWKYNsePVO

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2020

This is the second boiler explosion at the thermal power plant this year. Eight workers had been injured in a similar explosion on May 7.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced an ex-gratia of ₹3 lakhs each to families of those who died and ₹50,000 to those who sustained injuries.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami announces an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakhs each to families of those who lost their lives in a boiler explosion at Neyveli Lignite Plant. Rs 1 lakh&Rs 50,000 have been announced for those who have sustained severe & minor injuries, respectively: Tamil Nadu CMO

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2020

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister regarding the incident and assured Centre’s help. Shah said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is deployed to the site of the blast to assist in relief work.

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.

Praying for the earliest recovery of those injured.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 1, 2020