Unchahar Accident: Power Ministry Sets Up Independent Committee To Investigate The Cause

The Ministry of Power on Monday has constituted another independent committee of experts to investigate the causes of the accident that took place on 1 November 2017 at the Unchahar Thermal Power Plant of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) In Uttar Pradesh, that killed 36 out of 80 people working at the plant at that time.

There is already a three member committee constituted by NTPC under its executive director and two General Managers investigating the cause of the accident.

Initial reports suggest that the incident was caused due to the failure of the Economiser Section in the Boiler resulting in the exhaust of flue gases, an uncommon and rarest of failure.

NTPC Unchahar has a total capacity of 1,550 megawatt (MW) consisting of five units of 210 MW and one unit of 500 MW. Out of the five units of 210 MW, Unit number one is under Planned Overhauling and the other units are in operation.

“Efforts will be made to revive the 500 MW unit at the earliest,” NTPC Chairman Gurdeep Singh said on Friday.

The new committee constituted by the power ministry under Mr P.D. Siwal, Member (Thermal), Central Electricity Authority (CEA) along with three other members has been asked to investigate the causes of the accident and also to fix responsibility, if any, besides suggesting remedial measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

This expert committee, if required, can also seek assistance from experts or co-opt other members.

Other three members of the committee are Mr Subir Chakraborty, Director (Projects), UPRVUNL, Mr Dhawal Prakash Antapurkar, Director of Steam Boilers, Maharashtra and Dr L.D. Papney, Chief Engoneer, (TE&TD), CEA.

This committee has been asked to submit its report to the Ministry of Power within one month from the date of issue of the order. Meanwhile, the NTPC Unchahar Station is slowly recovering after one of its worst industrial accidents.

So far, 26 patients have been airlifted to Delhi for better treatment and 38 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Delhi and Lucknow. On its part, NTPC is indeed making all out efforts to ensure best treatment to the injured victims.

Out of 38 patients, 21 are in Delhi and 17 are undergoing treatment in Lucknow.  Six patients were discharged from hospitals after treatment from Raebareli and Lucknow.

To take care of all the patients round the clock manned control rooms are functional at hospitals at Delhi, Lucknow and Raebareli.

An officer has been attached to each patient admitted in Delhi to take care of all and any requirement. Additional helping hands and officers have reached Unchahar, Lucknow and Delhi for further assistance.

NTPC officials are seen working tirelessly to normalise the situation and provide relief to the victims and their families. In order to support the grieving families, around 22,000 NTPC employees decided to contribute one day’s salary which amounted to nearly Rs six crore.

All medical expenses of those who were injured in the ill-fated incident are being borne by NTPC.

District officials, State and Central Government have extended all support in the rescue and relief operations.

R.K. Singh, Minister of State for Power(I/c), during his visit to Unchahar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 10 lakh for seriously injured and Rs two lakh to injured.

NTPC has disbursed ex-gratia amount to affected victims and their family members. This is in addition to the relief announced by Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and besides the statutory compensation.

Multiple teams of NTPC and experts from equipment manufacturer BHEL are analysing the cause of the accident.