UPDATE - Boiler blast at power plant kills 6 in southern India

UPDATES DEATH TOLL; CHANGES HEADLINE; ADDS DETAILS

By Cheena Kapoor

NEW DELHI (AA) - At least six people died and 17 others injured in a boiler explosion at a thermal power plant in southern India on Wednesday, local media reported.

All the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital after the explosion at the boiler in stage-2 of the Neyveli Lignite plant at the Cuddalore district in southern India's Tamil Nadu state, according to private broadcaster NDTV.

This is the second boiler blast in the plant, where another boiler had exploded in May, killing five, including two permanent staff.

According to local media, the company -- Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited -- sources said: “The Unit V had shut down after it had tripped on Tuesday night. The workers and engineering staff were attempting to revive the unit when a fire reportedly broke out in the boiler, resulting in the explosion."

Fire-fighting teams have been rushed to the rescue operations following the blast.

"Pained to hear about the blast in Neyveli power point boiler in Tamil Nadu. I am informed that the administration is providing all help possible. My condolences with the bereaved families," tweeted Prahlad Joshi, the minister of parliamentary affairs, coal and mines.

Chief minister of the state announced 300,000 Indian rupees ($4,000) ex-gratia for next of kin of those who died and around another $1,300 to the severely injured.