Akola: Two workers were injured, one of them critically, following a coal mill backfire at the Paras Thermal Power Station in Akola district on Saturday morning. The incident has again raised concerns over the safety of workers at high-pressure power generation units amid surging electricity demand due to extreme heat conditions.The accident occurred at around 9am when a sudden backfire, similar to a minor explosion, took place in the coal mill section responsible for supplying fuel to the plant. The impact released a large amount of extremely hot ash, which fell directly onto workers present at the site.The injured workers have been identified as Sheikh Rauf (40), a resident of Paras, and Kanchan Digole (40), a resident of Ural village in Balapur tehsil.According to hospital sources, Yakoob sustained around 50%-60% burn injuries, affecting his back, abdomen, and face. He is currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Akola, and his condition is reported to be critical.Digole suffered injuries after falling from a height during the accident. He has sustained fractures in his leg along with injuries to his lower back. His condition is stable, doctors said. Co-workers immediately rushed both injured men to the hospital following the incident.Chief engineer Sharad Bhagat confirmed that the accident was caused by a coal mill backfire. “Hot ash fell on the workers, leading to burn injuries. An internal inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the mishap,” he said.Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Mulnivasi Bahujan Karmachari Sangh, a workers’ union at the facility, has alleged negligence on the part of the plant administration. The union claimed that repeated demands for proper safety equipment and protective gear for workers had been ignored.Union representatives stated that the absence of adequate safety measures exposed workers to serious risks. A memorandum has been submitted to the district administration seeking strict action against those responsible. Police officials from Balapur police station said no formal complaint has been registered so far.
