9 killed as fire erupts at Telangana power plant
Staff trapped in tunnel, tried to save plant
Nine people, including seven employees of the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TS Genco) and two from a private firm, were killed and eight others injured in a fire mishap at the Srisailam Left Bank hydel power station, located about 125 metres underground, around 10.30 pm Thursday. There is only one entry and exit to the tunnel. One of the victims was a woman.
The victims are said to have tried to protect the power plant, one of the country’s most prestigious, before trying to make their escape. Thick smoke is said to have prevented an easy escape as well as a quick rescue.
TS Genco said in a statement: “The accident happened when a sudden fire broke out in the electric panels. Employees who sensed danger made all efforts to extinguish the fire. The entrapped employees tried to save the plant from catching fire without even caring for their lives. It appears the employees continued their efforts until 12 at night (Thursday).”
Police and locals gather outside Srisailam Left Bank Power Station (SLBP) after a fire broke out on Thursday night at Srisailam in Kurnool district on Friday.
TS Genco said there were 17 staffers at the power station when the fire erupted. The eight survivors were admitted in the Genco Hospital at Srisailam.
Employees trapped in the tunnel as well as survivors sent videos and pictures of the fire through their cellphones to explain the seriousness of the situation inside the tunnel.
A survivor told TV channels: “We heard sounds and saw flames and tried to put off the fire. We were unable to do
so due to the smoke.” The smoke prevented them from helping others to escape. Another survivor said the staff tried to douse the flames with fire extinguishers but didn’t succeed.
Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao said the accident was “most tragic” and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. Mr Rao ordered a CID inquiry into the mishap, with additional DGP Govind Singh named as the inquiry officer.
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Dharavath Sunder Naik, 32, an assistant engineer of Genco who died in the Srisailam power plant fire, had recovered from Covid-19 one month back and had reportedly returned to duty only on Thursday, sources said.
Naik, a native of Jagani thanda of Chivvemla mandal of Suryapet district, returned to Srisaliam on July 25 after being treated at home and completing the quarantine period at his native home.
Sunder was a resident of the Genco quarters at Srisailam along with wife Prameela and two daughters, Mansavini and Nihaswi.
According to family members Sunder spoke to his wife and his parents at around 11.30 pm after the fire broke out. He asked his parents to take care of his daughters and wife as he could not escape death.
All the nine persons who
died in the fire accident at the Srisailam hydel power station spoke to their family members even as they tried to escape from the flames and thick smoke.
Mohan Rao, an assistant engineer and resident of Jeedimetla in Hyderabad, spoke to his family and one of his colleagues Venu and told them that his chances of escaping were bleak. He was among the nine victims.
Deputy engineer Srinivas Goud spoke to his family around 11.30 pm over phone and told them that there was no