Bokaro police have filed a formal complaint (FIR) against Vedanta’s ESL Steel Limited (earlier known as Electrosteel) management and contractor in connection to a plant accident that occurred on 15 December. One worker had died and three workers were seriously injured in the incident. Based on one of the injured worker’s, statements, which was recorded by Kolkata police at the hospital where he is being treated, the complaint was filed.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Chas, Purusottam Kumar Singh on Tuesday said ” An FIR has been filed against ESL Steel Limited and the contractor conducting work under sections 304 A and 34/B of the IPC in connection with a plant accident in which one worker died and three others sustained burn injuries”.
He added, 304 A of IPC stands for causing death by negligence. Meanwhile, the four-member committee of administrative officials headed by SDO, Chas, Dilip Singh Shekhawat visited the accident site to investigate the incident on Monday.
The inquiry committee comprises senior officials including labour superintendent, factory inspector, and district disaster management officer as members. They will submit the report in few days to the deputy commissioner, Kuldeep Chaudhary, following which further action will be taken.
Factory inspector, Dhirender Singh Munda said “the committee members during the inquiry recorded the statement of an eye-witness, apart from assessing the spot”. On December, 16 district administration had set an inquiry in connection to the electrical flash incident that occurred in ESL Steel Limited plant after a worker was demised suffering 80 percent burn.
The committee also checked whether ESL management complies Industrial Act and Workmen Compensation Act. The factory inspector found that the incident occurred when workers charged the Circuit Breaker Panel at 33 KVA Sub-Station of the Main Receiving Sub-Station (MRCC).
