Raipur (Chhattisgarh): The Collector and District Magistrate of Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, has issued a show cause notice to the management of Karni Krupa Power Plant situated in Khairjhiti Tehsil following a serious industrial accident that occurred on September 8, 2024 within the plant. The incident left three workers critically injured, two of whom—Bharat Verma and Khileshwar Sahu—succumbed to their injuries on September 12 and 14, respectively.
The management failed to report the accident to district authorities, violating Rule 108 (2) of the Chhattisgarh Factories Rules, 1962, which requires immediate notification of incidents resulting in death or serious injury. The district administration became aware of the situation only on September 22, 2024, through media and social media reports. The plant management has been given three days ultimatum to explain their actions; failure to do so may result in punitive measures.
Accident Site Sealed
In a related development, the accident site at the Karni Krupa Power Plant has been sealed by order of the Collector. Labour Officer Devendranath Patra and Assistant Director of Industrial Health and Safety Manish Kunjam executed the sealing action. The area surrounding the gas coding tower, approximately 20 meters, has been restricted until all necessary safety measures are implemented.
Additionally, the Collector has issued directives addressing air pollution concerns caused by improper mineral transport in hazardous industries and large-scale projects in the district. A joint district-level team has been formed to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations. This team includes officials from the District Trade and Industry Centre, the Environmental Conservation Board, and other relevant departments, tasked with investigating the situation and submitting a comprehensive report.
Notably, after a long period, a collector dared to issue such a strict order against the company management favouring the public interest, a local journalist commented.
