6 Dead, 17 Injured in Boiler Explosion at Indian Power Plant

At least six people died and another 17 were injured Wednesday morning in a boiler explosion at a thermal power station in southern India, the second such blast there since May.

It is suspected that overheating and high pressure contributed to the explosion at the Neyveli Thermal Power Station in Tamil Nadu’ Cuddalore district just as in the May 7 accident, local media report. The plant combines integrated mining with power generation.

The explosion occurred as operations were being resumed in one of the thermal power station’s seven units.

The six dead personnel were contract workers between the ages of 25 and 42 years, local media report. Of the surviving casualties, the worst injured suffered burns over 40% of their bodies.

All 17 of the injured have been admitted to NLCIL General Hospital in Neyveli.

As of shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday it is suspected that workers remain trapped in the wreckage of the blast.

Four workers died in the May boiler explosion at Neyveli.