Explosion occurs at Durgapur NIT during research, professor and student injured

A serious explosion during a thermite welding research experiment at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur, on Tuesday morning led to panic on campus. The incident occurred in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, injuring a senior professor and a student.

According to campus sources, the explosion was triggered by a chemical leakage during the experiment. Professor Indrajit Basak, a resident of Recall Park in Durgapur’s city center, and student Akash Majhi from Asansol, were conducting research when the sudden blast caused them both to suffer burns.

Following the explosion, both were rushed to a private hospital at Gandhi More. While student Akash Majhi sustained minor injuries and was discharged later in the day, the situation of Professor Basak is more serious. Hospital authorities confirmed he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is currently under close medical supervision.

The incident has raised concerns over lab safety protocols in premier research institutes. NIT’s Public Relations Officer, Srikrishna Rai, confirmed the seriousness of the matter and said the administration has launched an internal probe to determine the cause of the chemical leakage. The explosion not only caused injuries but also led to partial damage in the research lab. Faculty members and students were visibly shaken, with the department temporarily suspending lab-based activities until further notice.