Nagpur: Eight workers were injured at the Koradi Thermal Power Station, about 15 kms from Nagpur, after steam suddenly escaped from a boiler peephole on Monday morning. This is the second such accident at the power plant in just over a month, raising concerns over safety standards at the state-run unit.On March 11, four workers sustained minor burn injuries to their hands and legs after steam allegedly leaked from a pipeline in the turbine maintenance section of a 660 MW unit.According to a statement issued by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco), the accident on Monday occurred around 10.20am at unit no. 10, which was closed at the time. The steam escaped from a boiler peephole during slag removal work being carried out on 13 metres high platform, the company stated.The injured included four Mahagenco employees and four contract workers. They have been identified as Sachin Bhagewar, Vivek Patil, Tejas Sonawane, AK Kazi, Nikhil Jayatgude, Kamlesh Barmate, Gulabsing Tikam and Vilas Bansod.They were rushed to a private hospital in Nagpur. As per the hospital, the injured persons were triaged, stabilised, and transferred to dedicated care. While four patients are stable and receiving appropriate medical care, four of them have sustained relatively severe injuries and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists, the hospital stated. The accident occurred barely a day after the plant achieved a significant milestone, with the arrival of the first rake from Mahagenco’s Gare Palma Sector-II captive mine in Chhattisgarh, more than a decade after the block was allocated. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had flagged off the rake in the presence of revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and senior officials.In its statement, Mahagenco said immediate medical assistance was provided to the injured and the situation was brought under control swiftly. The company has initiated a safety audit through its internal department, adding that no prima facie violation of safety norms was observed so far.Mahagenco also stated that it will bear the full cost of medical treatment for all the injured workers.However, sources said on condition of anonymity that steam-related accidents raise the need for a thorough, independent safety review at the plant.
