In one of India’s worst industrial accidents, a massiveexplosion at a thermal plant killed 26 and injured 100 workers on Wednesday. <br /><br />More than 22 survivors are battling for life with severe burn injuries.<br /><br />The massive explosion took place in the 500MW boiler unit of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant in Unchahar on Wednesday.<br /><br />A fire broke out inside the boiler trapping many workers and making rescue operations difficult. <br /><br />A huge plume of smoke rose after the explosion and could be seen from miles away. <br /><br />A senior police official Anand Kumar said in a statement that ash had piled up in the furnace beneath the boiler, which led to building up of pressure resulting in the explosion.<br /><br />The Uttar Pradesh government and NTPC have announced separate enquiries into the incident.<br /><br />NTPC, India’s leading power producer, has shut down the 500 MW unit, where the mishap occurred. The other five units of the station are operating normally, NTPC said in a statement.<br /><br />NTPC officials also sought to defend their safety record in off-the-record interaction with the media. They said accidents had been a rarity at their power stations. <br /><br />But many workers of the affected NTPC plant went on a protest against the management on Thursday. <br /><br />They said the temperature has been steadily rising at the furnace, but the management had ignored their warning.<br /><br />The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a compensation of Rs.2 lakh for the families of the dead and Rs. 50,000 for the badly injured.<br /><br />++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN LOOPED++
