Rae Bareli: The toll in the explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant climbed to 29, with nine more deaths reported on Thursday.


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"Twenty nine persons have succumbed to injuries and 85 were being treated at hospitals in Rae Bareli and Lucknow," the NTPC said in an official release.


The Centre also ordered a probe by the NTPC's executive director into the incident while the state administration ordered a magisterial probe.


Meanwhile, Union Power Minister RK Singh visited the site to oversee relief measures in what is one of the worst tragedies at a power plant in recent history.


Singh announced Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of those killed in the accident.


"I am of the view that the ex-gratia which was earlier announced was not enough. Rs 20 lakh compensation will be given to the next of kin of those who died in the accident, while the seriously injured will get Rs 10 lakh and those who sustained minor injuries will be given Rs 2 lakh," he told reporters.


On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Shrikant Sharma tweeted, "The Centre has constituted a committee to probe the accident. The committee headed by executive director of NTPC will submit its report in 30 days."


This amount is in addition to the compensation provided under the workmen compensation rules, he said.





In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased.



Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is abroad on an official tour, has also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured besides Rs 25,000 for the other injured workers.


The NTPC in an official release said that unit number six (500 MW) of the plant was under shutdown after the accident.


However, five other units of 1,050 MW capacity were operating normally.


The 500 MW unit was made operational in March this year.


NTPC has said that at unit number six of its Unchahar plant, there was a sudden abnormal sound at 20-meter elevation around 3:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon.


There was an opening in corner number two from which gases and steam 'escaped' affecting the people working around the area, it had said.


(With PTI inputs)