What happened

An explosion followed by fire struck the 210 MW Unit 5 boiler-support structure at NLC India's Thermal Power Station II while the unit was shut for maintenance. Unit 5 had been taken offline at 09:30 the previous day and left to cool. Workers began water-cleaning boiler floors and structures at about 07:00; the explosion occurred at approximately 09:45 while personnel were cleaning accumulated lignite dust in a box-type girder. Six workers died at the scene and 17 were hospitalized. Nine of those hospitalized later died, bringing the final toll in the independent investigation to 15, rather than the preliminary totals of 6, 12, 13 or 14 reported as the death toll rose. Investigators concluded that the explosion occurred outside the boiler furnace in its supporting structure. Their analysis identified inadequate awareness of combustible water-gas generation, accumulated lignite dust, deficient housekeeping and insufficient emergency planning as key safety issues. NLC suspended the TPS-II unit head, opened internal and independent inquiries and ordered all four 210 MW Stage-II units shut for immediate safety audits. The accident came only 55 days after the fatal Unit 6 fire at the same station.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.