Salem (TN): One person died and two others were injured when a conveyor belt carrying coal to a boiler in the first unit of the Mettur Thermal Power Station here caught fire in the wee hours today.
District Revenue officer Prasanna Ramaswami said the mishap occurred at 1.30 AM due to the heat generated and the conveyor belt carrying coal caught fire.
The conveyor belt operator, Nallathambi (40) died on the spot, he said.
The injured have been hospitalised, the official said, adding, the fire was extinguished after seven hours.
The 400 metre long belt was damaged and coal burnt, he said.
The 840 MW thermal station has four units each with 210 MW capacity.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 11:24