Daijiworld Media Network - Bokaro

Bokaro, Oct 11: Two employees died in a suspected gas leak incident at the Vedanta Electrosteel plant in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Sunday.

The incident occurred while the two employees were working inside Blast Furnace-1 at the plant, located in the Sialjori police station area. Preliminary findings suggest that they were exposed to a toxic gas, following which their health deteriorated suddenly.

The deceased have been identified as Sohan Mahto from Hazaribagh and Samir Ansari from Dhanbad. According to an official statement issued by the management, one of the deceased was a company executive, while the other was working as an engineer under a business partner.

The company said both employees underwent preliminary medical examinations following the suspected gas exposure and were rushed to a hospital. However, their lives could not be saved, and doctors declared them brought dead.

The exact cause of the deaths has not yet been officially confirmed. It is also unclear which hazardous gas the employees were exposed to or whether any lapse in safety standards contributed to the incident.

Following the incident, panic and tension prevailed on the plant premises. Local police rushed to the spot and assessed the situation. The police took custody of the bodies and initiated legal proceedings for post-mortem examinations.

Police officials said the actual cause of the accident would be established only after a detailed investigation.

Meanwhile, the management of ESL Steel Limited expressed deep grief over the deaths and conveyed its condolences to the bereaved families. The company said all possible assistance and support were being extended to both families during the difficult time.

A company spokesperson said an independent and impartial inquiry would be conducted into the incident and that strict measures would be taken based on its findings.