Fire breaks out in Bhilai Steel Plant, no injuries

RAIPUR: A major fire broke out in the coke oven and chemicals department at Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district on Friday morning. No injuries were reported.


Several fire tenders were sent to Durg from Raipur to control the fire.

"The fire was reported at around 8:30 in the morning at Tar Distillation Unit of BSP in its Coke Ovens and Coal Chemicals (CO & CC) department.

Immediately, the fire tenders were rushed to the site and the fire has been controlled with greatest promptitude," said a statement issued by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

"It further stated that there has been no loss of life or any injury to any of the persons working in or around the site. The reason for the fire is being probed into ... There has not been any disruption in the plant's normal operation," reads the statement. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel directed collector Durg to take every possible measure for damage control and provide necessary support. A fire brigade and ambulance was sent from Raipur on the instructions of the chief minister.

In the recent past, BSP has seen two major accidents which claimed lives of 13 employees and left many injured.

On April 6, eight workers were injured after a portion of a roof of a blast furnace blew up. The injured were working around the furnace at the time of the incident.

According to reports, the right hearth of the twin hearth furnace of Number 2 of Steel Melting Shop 1 at the plant had developed sudden pressure, leading to the explosion. On October 9, 2018, 13 employees were killed and 11 severely injured in a gas pipeline blast.

The explosion had taken place in the pipeline connected to the coke oven section of the plant during a maintenance job. Nine persons died on the spot while two others died during treatment later at the hospital.