by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in a boiler blast inside a state-run power plant in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Wednesday has risen to 10, officials said.
The blast also injured over 100 people.
The blast took place in the evening inside National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant at Unchahar Raibareli, about 110 km southeast of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
"Ten people were dead and 100 injured in a blast in steam boiler at NTPC Raebareli," a statement issued by India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.
A senior police official told the media that 10 bodies have been recovered so far from the site.
However, local media reports put the death toll at 15.
"Fifteen people were reported dead and over 100 others injured when a blast took place at NTPC's thermal power plant at Unchahar in Raebareli district on Wednesday," New Delhi-based television news channel News18 said.
According to police, the pressure inside the ash pipe triggered the blast of the boiler.
"It's believed that accumulation of ash inside pipe and furnace of the boiler exploded due to pressure at the power plant," a senior official at Raebareli told Xinhua.
Officials said they have rushed police teams, disaster management personnel, and ambulances to the spot.
Police said a fully equipped National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team consisting of 32 personnel has left Lucknow for Raibareli.
About 150 workers were said to be present inside the plant when the blast took place.
The victims are said to be workers employed in the power plant.
Reports said the blast triggered massive fire, following which the plant was shut down.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is currently on a three-day visit to Mauritius, has directed the state's officials to send all possible help to the victims.
He has also announced ex gratia relief of 3,095 U.S. dollars for each family that has lost its member in the accident.
NTPC plant is a secured facility and entry is restricted to employees only. The power plant is guarded by paramilitary India's Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary wing mandated to provide security to major installations of India like nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, and sensitive buildings.
Hundreds of people including those whose family members are working inside the power plant have gathered at the Rai Bareli district hospital.
Authorities have ordered a probe into the explosion.
NTPC in a statement described the incident as "unfortunate".
