At least 25 people including 10 contract labourers fell ill after a gas leak in Steel Authority of India?s (SAIL) Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) on Thursday.
A preliminary investigation has revealed that there was some leakage of blast furnace gas or deadly methane gas from the scrubber area of the gas cleaning plant. Some employees working in the cast house area of blast furnace No.2 had a feeling of discomfort after working for about an hour around 11 am.
Sources in the steel plant said the workers could not breathe properly and had a feeling of drowsiness. The workers were first taken to the plant medical unit immediately after the matter came to notice but had to be shifted to the DSP main hospital for treatment.
According to a SAIL official release, out of the 25 people affected, 10 have already been released and 15 are still under treatment.
The DSP management claimed that it was promptly detected and tackled. Plant operations continued normally after the incident.
The SAIL official release said that a committee headed by the DSP general manager has been formed to enquire into the matter.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days.