Two die after gas leak at Rungta Steel in Seraikela-Kharsawan in Jharkhand

Two workers were killed and another fell seriously ill after being exposed to hazardous industrial gas at the Rungta Steel plant located at Rajnagar in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district, about 35 km away.

The dead have been identified as Vishal Kumar Sharma and Rahul Kumar, both residents of Bihar's Vaishali district, and one seriously ill has been identified as Dinesh Ray, who is undergoing treatment at the Tata General Hospital. Though the incident took place on Wednesday, it came into limelight after the family members of the victims reached Tata General Hospital today.

All three victims were working in a closed chamber of the steel plant on Wednesday and passed out. Some co-workers informed the company management, who immediately rescued them and took them to the main Tata Hospital. At the hospital, the emergency doctors declared Vishal and Rahul dead. However, the hospital's emergency room admitted Dinesh Ray, whose condition is still considered serious.

A steel mill source said three workers were exposed to carbon monoxide at the plant. OC, Rajnagar thana, Chandan Kumar confirmed the deaths due to gas leak at Rungta Steel and necessary investigation is underway.

“Though two people have died due to exposure to industrial gas leak at Rungta Steel, we are yet to register a case subject to the statement of surviving victim Dinesh Ray, who is undergoing treatment at Tata General Hospital. However, we have started an investigation in collaboration with the factory inspector,” the OC said

Those who died had joined Rungta Steel three months ago, as they had come from Bihar in search of work.