At Least 8 Dead, Several Injured As Chimney Collapses At Chhattisgarh Plant

New Delhi: A chimney collapsed at an under-construction plant in Chhattisgarh 's Mungeli district on Tuesday resulting in the death of at least 8 workers and injuring several others. The chimney, which collapsed at an under-construction iron-pipe manufacturing factory, reportedly trapped over two dozen workers. The accident happened at the Kusum Plant in Saragaon, which is around 150 km from the state capital, Raipur.

According to authorities, at least 8-9 workers are feared dead, while several others have been injured. The rescue operation is currently underway, with emergency services and rescue teams working tirelessly to retrieve the trapped workers. 

The incident occurred in the afternoon at the plant located in the Saragaon area of the district, Mungeli Superintendent of Police Bhojram Patel said.

As per preliminary information, the silo – an iron structure used to store bulk materials – crashed, trapping under it some workers present at the site, he said.

After being alerted, police reached the spot and a rescue operation was launched, the official said.

Mungeli collector Rahul Deo stated, "Labourers are feared trapped at an iron-making factory in Sargaon, Mungeli after the silo structure of the factory collapsed." He added that police and administration are present at the spot, and a rescue operation is underway.

Preliminary reports suggest that the accident occurred due to overlooked safety standards during the plant's construction, as per reports. 

This incident is not an isolated one. In December, a similar tragedy occurred in Kerala 's Kollam district, where a chimney from an abandoned cashew factory collapsed, killing a 16-year-old boy. The victim, identified as Anandu, was a class 12th student who had been climbing the boundary wall of the factory with his friends when the structure collapsed.