Chhattisgarh: 2 senior officers suspended after four accidents claim 2 lives

RAIPUR: Two general managers of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) have been suspended, pending an inquiry, for alleged negligence after two workers were killed and seven injured in four accidents at the public sector unit this month.
On June 1, worker Rahul Upadhyay died and a colleague was injured in a blast when they were cleaning a furnace that hadn’t been in operation for a long time.The other labourer, Parmeshwar Sikka, sustained 90% burns.
On June 3 and 4, seven workers sustained burns in accidents. And on Thursday night, an equipment malfunctioned in steel melting shop-2, critically injuring contractual worker Arjun Sahu. The 42-year-old was taken to hospital where he died. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. Those who sustained burns in the accidents are undergoing treatment at Sector-9 Hospital and their condition is said to be stable.
BSP is one of the biggest steel producers of the country and the back-to-back accidents have triggered alarm. Separate committees are investigating each accident.
The reports are awaited but sources say that preliminary findings indicate negligence in safety norms, poorly maintained equipment and carelessness by some workers.
Worker union members have been protesting strongly, even staging an agitation in front of the gates of the plant, demanding better compensation to the families of the victims. Union elections are due in July, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
GM (mechanical) A Rajkumar and GM (departmental safety officer) Gaurav Singhal have been suspended, pending a departmental inquiry, a BSP spokesman confirmed. CGM (steel melting shop-2) Sushil Kumar has been shifted and CGM Sushant Kumar Ghoshal has been entrusted the responsibility in his place.