BHILAI, India, June 13 (UPI) -- A gas leak in a steel plant in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh killed at least six people and injured over 34.
The gas leak at the Bhilai Steel Plant, regarded as the flagship location of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd., on Thursday evening was reported in a water pump. Although local media said it was followed by a blast, Vijay Mehra, the plant's chief communication officer, said "Six have died, 23 have been admitted to hospital ... There was no blast, only gas leakage."
Among the dead are two deputy general managers of the plant, a master technician and a senior operator, Mehra added.
Local reports said maintenance work was underway at the time of the incident.
Similar accidents at the plant killed one person in 2011, another in 2012, and five in 2013. However, the SAIL website says it is a 11-time winner of the Prime Minister's Trophy as India's best integrated steel plant.
