Power plant explosion in India leaves dozens dead

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - A power plant explosion has left 26 people dead, a state official said Thursday.

Arvind Kumar, the principal secretary for Uttar Pradesh, confirmed the death toll from Wednesday’s blast to Anadolu Agency.

More than 100 were injured in the accident at the publicly owned National Thermal Power Corporation’s Unchahar plant in Rai Bareli.

The corporation launched an investigation and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the families of those killed would be paid the equivalent of around $ 3,125 in compensation.

Broadcaster NDTV reported that a boiler pipe explosion led to a massive fire and a large dust cloud that hampered rescue efforts.

The 500-megawatt power plant began operating in March.

Industrial accidents are fairly common in India, where safety regulations are often flouted.