Chhattisgarh: Labourer killed, another injured, others feared trapped after silo collapse at Mungeli smelting plant

RAIPUR: At least one labourer was killed and another injured while a few others are feared trapped or dead after a silo – Chimney iron structure- at a smelting plant collapsed in Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

The incident took place around post noon at a private smelting plant near Rambod and Saragaon village, located 60 km from Mungeli district headquarters and 35 kms from Bilaspur town. Police rushed to the spot and rescue teams were pressed on the job.

Speaking to TOI, Mungeli SP Bhojram Patel, who was on the spot of the incident, said, “The Silo is an iron structure used in storing hot ash in bulk. It was erected at the smelting plant and came down crashing suddenly, trapping at least 4-5 persons. While two labourers were rescued and admitted at a hospital in Bilaspur, rescue operation is still underway.”

SP added that the debris was being removed to find if more people were trapped but the weight of it is over 70 tons along with hot ash, which will take some time to cool down.

It seems that the rescue will continue through the night.

Speaking to TOI, Bilaspur range inspector general of police Sanjeev Shukla said, “The two injured labourers were rushed to hospital but one has succumbed late evening while another is critical. The ash inside the silo is as hot as 112-degree temperatures, Efforts were being made to empty the ash so that the structure can be removed to check what lay under it. Cranes and other heavy equipment vehicles were on the spot escalating the rescue operation.”

IG Shukla said, since the temperatures around the silo were so high, there’s less chance of high casualties. Though, according to factory management, a supervisor and another labourer have been missing since the incident occurred, hence it’s feared they might be trapped under, Shukla said.

There was a truck parked close by, but as it was lunchtime going on, the driver had gone to fetch food, which saved him from the untoward incident.

The surrounding as of now has been cordoned off and no outsider is allowed to venture inside, but the locals and other labourers sought to sit in protest, raising slogans. They alleged that the safety norms at the plant were not being followed and repair works were long pending. The plant was undergoing expansion.

The labourers at the spot have demanded a high-level inquiry into the accident.