Fire tragedy in TNPL unit; kills three contract workers

Contract workers were busy at the coal crushing section when the fire broke out. The coal was meant to be used in the paper making process. Fire spread across a pile of coal in the chamber and soon engulfed three workers - Soundar (26) died on the spot, while Subramanian and Devaraj later succumbed to injuries.

 

District collector T P Rajesh visited the accident site and enquired with the officials about the reasons for the accident and held a meeting with them to find ways and means to increase the safety measures.

 

Terming it a “freak incident,” the collector told The Hindu that he had issued instructions to the TNPL officials to step up safety measures in the coal handling area.

 

The Chief Minister had earlier announced a solatium of three lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased persons.

 

The tragedy happened on the day that TNPL announced a standalone net profit rise of 24.35% in the December 2015 quarter.