Chimney collapse smokes out 50 labourers in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, May 26: More than 24 hours after the chimney collapse at the Parichha power plant near Jhansi, not even one of the 50-odd labourers buried under the rubble could be evacuated despite the army, paramilitary and heavy machinery being pressed into service.

Though no deaths were officially confirmed since no bodies have been recovered, reports said the possibility of anyone emerging alive is negligible.

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) officials said Monday’s accident was a major jolt to the power scenario in the state, which is already facing a 2,000-MW shortfall daily. A senior official said the expansion of the Parichha power plant had been delayed by over a year.

An initial inquiry into the accident has exposed negligence on the part of the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC), a central government enterprise that was building the chimney, as well as laxity on the part of the state’s energy department.

Sources said it was known to all authorities concerned that the chimney was faulty and its structure warped. In fact, the labour union had got the work stopped in August 2009. It resumed after NBCC got a certificate from IIT-Kanpur.

The UP energy minister told reporters in Jhansi that NBCC was squarely responsible for the accident. UPPCL chairman Navneet Sehgal said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the matter.

NBCC director (projects) BP Das said he would comment after studying facts. He said NBCC had a record of erecting two dozen chimneys up to a height of 275 metres without any untoward happening.

The UP Vidyut Utpadan Nigam said the project would have created 500 MW for the energy-starved state. Both these units were expected to start generation in the next three months. UPPCL has to now put behind all its plans, though for the time being.

—Agencies