Odisha Cement Plant Collapse: Bodies of Three Workers Recovered After Rescue Operation

The bodies of three missing workers were found on Saturday amidst the debris of a collapsed iron structure at a cement plant in Odisha's Sundergarh district. This discovery came after a 36-hour rescue effort, according to police reports. The deceased were identified as Susanta Rout, aged 58, Ranjit Bhol, aged 24, and Dashrath Patra, aged 42. These individuals were employed by a contractor at the captive power plant in Rajgangpur.

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Bringing clarity to the incident, Brijesh Kumar Rai, DIG of Western Range Rourkela, explained that the workers became trapped when a coal hopper—a large iron structure for storing coal—collapsed on Thursday evening. The coal hopper was managed by a third-party vendor hired by Dalmia Cement, as stated by the company earlier. Fortunately, over 60 other workers were safely rescued on the day of the accident.

Rescue Efforts and Immediate Actions

The rescue operation involved personnel from the fire service department, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and local police teams. Following this tragic event, the government immediately prohibited Dalmia Cement from operating the coal bunker and its connected circuit at the power plant. This decision was made to prevent further incidents.

An order issued by the additional director of factories and boiler highlighted that a similar incident had occurred at the cement plant on November 26, although it resulted in no casualties. The order also recommended implementing a 10-point safety norm for the cement plant to enhance safety measures.

Company's Response and Support

In response to the incident, Dalmia Cement released a statement expressing their condolences: "We are extending full support to the bereaved families in close coordination with the district administration, including education, livelihood and compensation." The company emphasized its commitment to worker safety and well-being.

District Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan visited the plant to discuss matters with company officials. Meanwhile, a demonstration that had been taking place outside the factory gate concluded after the recovery of the three bodies. Inspector-in-charge of Rajgangpur Manas Ranjan Pradhan confirmed that demonstrators left shortly after.

Discussions between the company and district administration are ongoing regarding compensation for the deceased workers' families. This dialogue aims to ensure appropriate support is provided to those affected by this unfortunate incident.