27 ill after methane emission at Durgapur steel plant in West Bengal

At least 27 workers were taken ill after “increased emission” of carbon monoxide and methane from a blast furnace of Durgapur steel plant in Durgapur, West Bengal, on Thursday morning.
Out of the affected workers, 24 were admitted in Durgapur steel plant (DSP) hospital where the condition of four was stated to be critical, chief of communications of DSP, B Kanungo, said. They have been shifted to the intensive care unit. The steel plant is owned by Steel Authority of India Ltd (Sail).

According to sources in the district administration, the deadly methane had been leaking for quite some time, but workers first detected it on Thursday noon, after they started experiencing breathing discomfort and dizziness.

Co-workers immediately reported to DSP authorities who decided to shut down the plant. Though all workers were evacuated quickly, by then many had fallen ill after inhaling the gas.  

However, Kanungo refused to accept that the tragedy was due to gas leakage. “The workers probably fell sick because of excessive concentration of gas. There is no evidence of gas leakage,” he said. District administration officials said the matter is being investigated.