Following a gas leak incident that was reported at Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) on Monday, at least eight workers sustained injuries. According to preliminary reports, a carbon monoxide gas leak caused three employees and five contract labourers to become ill.
The incident happened today while they were at blast furnace number five doing some repairs. The eight injured were taken to Ispat General Hospital (IGH) immediately after the incident. Now, they are receiving care in the intensive care unit.
The hospital administration claims that they have all been under 24-hour observation. Similar incidents were previously reported at the Rourkela Steel Plant. The accident also claimed the lives of five labourers. Safety was then given priority by the RSP authorities. Locals lamented that it appears that a thorough investigation into these accidents has not yet been possible.
A number of unions have also accused the government of failing to take the necessary action and ignoring worker safety. There was no response from the RSP authorities.
