TFP Bureau, Surguja; September 8,2024: In a tragic incident at the Maa Kudargadhi Alumina Plant in Surguja, 8 to 9 workers were buried when a coal-loaded hopper and approximately 150 feet of conveyor belt collapsed around 11 a.m. on Sunday. Two workers have been confirmed dead, and two others remain in critical condition. Four workers are still trapped under the rubble, as rescue operations are underway.
The accident occurred as coal was being loaded into a hopper previously used for loading straw. The hopper, which had been repurposed to handle coal starting September 1, collapsed due to overloading, bringing down the belt that carried coal to the plant’s boiler.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately after the collapse, with workers and machinery including hydras and JCBs deployed to clear the debris. After an hour and a half of painstaking work, five workers were pulled out from the rubble and rushed to Sarguja Medical College Hospital. However, two of them, identified as Manoj and Prince Raj, were declared dead upon arrival. Two others remain in critical condition.
Local police, including the outpost in-charge, arrived at the scene following the incident. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining workers, with heavy machinery and gas cutters being used to clear the debris.
According to plant officials, the hopper was originally designed to hold sawdust used to fuel the plant’s boiler. However, on September 1, the plant switched to coal, which overloaded the hopper, causing it to collapse under the excessive weight.
The Maa Kudargadhi Alumina Plant refines bauxite brought in from Mainpat to produce alumina. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident and assessing safety protocols at the plant.
