Major industrial disasters in India that took place post lockdown

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India has witnessed increased instances of industrial mishaps as factories resumed operations after more than a month of nationwide lockdown.

As per data collected by IndustriALL Global union, Geneva-based federation of unions from across the world, more than 30 industrial mishaps have been reported in the country since May and some 75 deaths have been reported. Here are some of the recent accidents which have brought the focus back on the question of safety measures.

Ramky CETP Solvents's building in Pharma City, Vizag (July 13, 2020)

A massive fire broke out at a chemical factory in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in the night. Several people got injured in the mishap.Ramky CETP Solvents's building in Pharma City blew up due to reasons yet to be disclosed. The explosions soon turned into a massive fire which was clearly visible across the city. At least 12 fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames. One person died and four were seriously injured.

Neyveli NSE Lignite Corporation (NLC), Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu (July 1, 2020)

The incident claimed the lives of six men leaving 17 others injured when a boiler exploded at the thermal plant of Neyveli NSE Lignite Corporation (NLC) in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district. The mishap took place around 9.45 am at the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II (210 MW x 7) after a fire broke out. Workers, at that time, were busy with maintenance activities for resuming operations, a company statement said.

Mahoba stone mine explosion, Madhya Pradesh (June 13, 2020)

Three labourers died and two others sustained grave injuries in a powerful explosion that occurred due to the lightning in a stone mine in Kabrai area of Mahoba district on June 13, 2020. As per official records, the accident took place when about a dozen labourers were laying out gunpowder and ED for blasting stones in the mine situated near Pahra Pahada village of the district. Lightning struck the explosives and caused a powerful explosion which claimed the lives of three labourers, leaving two injured.

OIL's Natural gas well fire, Baghjan, Assam (June 9, 2020)

A natural gas well owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) turned into an inferno in Baghjan, Assam next to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park on June 9, 2020. The well had been continuously spewing out gas or undergoing a blowout since May 27 in Tinsukia district. Five people died due to the gas leak in the area. The company had also appointed an environmental consultant to assess the impact of the blowout in nearby areas of the district. OIL assured that it would provide immediate financial relief of Rs 30,000 each to over 1,600 families affected.

Yashaswi Rasayan, Boiler explosion, Dahej, Gujarat (June 3, 2020)

Eight workers besides 50 others were injured on June 3, 2020, in a massive fire triggered by a blast in the boiler of a chemical factory at Dahej in Gujarat's Bharuch district. As companies of methanol and xylene chemicals were located near the affected factory, authorities shifted about 4,800 people from nearby Luvara and Lakhigam villages to safer places as a part of a precautionary measure. About 230 workers were present inside the factory, Yashaswi Rasayan, located in Dahej Special Economic Zone-1, 42 km from Bharuch, at the time of the incident in the afternoon. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, took a jibe at BJP government and blamed the state government for the incident. He said factories need to undergo complete safety audit as there have been rising cases of industrial accidents in Gujarat.

LG Polymers gas leak, Visakhapatnam (May 7, 2020)

The Visakhapatnam gas leak (Vizag gas leak) was an industrial mishap that took place at the LG Polymers chemical plant located on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, during the wee hours of May 7, 2020. The resulting vapour cloud spread over a radius of around 3km. The incident claimed 11 lives (including a six-year-old girl), and more than 1,000 fell sick due to the gas leakage. Over 350 were admitted to hospitals after toxic styrene monomer gas leaked from the chemical plant belonging to LG Polymers at RR Venkatapuram.
The investigation is underway. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance of the gas leak incident. On May 8, it directed LG Polymers India to deposit an amount of Rs 50 crore for the damage caused. Also, police on July,7 arrested the CEO and two directors along with eight other officials of LG Polymers in connection with this gas leak incident.

Shakti Paper Mill Gas Leak, Chattisgarh (May 7, 2020)

Seven workers fell ill, three of them seriously, after inhaling poisonous gas at a paper mill in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district on May 7, 2020. The incident occurred at Shakti Paper Mill in Tetla village, where the victims were cleaning a recycling chamber on the same evening. The mill, located around 250 km from State capital Raipur, had remained shut ever since the COVID-19 lockdown was enforced in late March and the cleaning work was underway to resume operations.