NTPC boiler blast: Union power minister RK Singh announces ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh for next of kin of those killed

**New Delhi:**The next of kin of those killed in a boiler explosion at NTPC’s Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district on Wednesday will get a compensation amount of Rs 20 lakh, Union power minister RK Singh said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the state administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. The death toll in explosion had risen up to 29, while 85 people were being treated in hospitals, a press release from the NTPC said. “I am of the view that the ex-gratia which was earlier announced was not enough. Rs 20 lakh compensation will be given to the next of kin of those who died in the accident, while the seriously injured will get Rs 10 lakh and those who sustained minor injuries will be given Rs 2 lakh,” Singh told reporters. This amount is in addition to the compensation provided under the workmen compensation rules, he said. In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. “Prime Minister @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. PM has approved Rs 50,000 each for those injured due to the accident,” the prime minister’s office said on Twitter.

Prime Minister @narendramodi has approved an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. PM has approved Rs. 50,000 each for those injured due to the accident.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2017

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for the other injured workers. The 1,550-megawatt (MW) plant where the blast happened supplies electricity to nine states. [caption id=“attachment_4188919” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  26 people were killed in the NTPC blast. PTI[/caption] “This is to inform that Unit-6 (500 MW) of Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Station, Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, is under shutdown after an accident in the evening of 1 November. The other five units of the station are operating normally,” NTPC said in a statement. NTPC had on Wednesday said it has initiated a probe to ascertain the reasons behind the blast. At around 1530 hours on Wednesday, “there was sudden abnormal sound at 20-meter elevation,” it had said in a statement. “There was opening in corner No.2 from which hot flue gases and steam escaped affecting the people working around the area,” the statement read. Around 80 people were rushed to NTPC hospital, most of them were discharged after giving first-aid, it added. The plant employs around 870 people. “All possible measures are being taken to provide immediate relief to the families of affected people in close coordination with the district administration,” NTPC said. For more updates click here