Bhilai gas leak: All but 4 injured discharged from hospital

All but four employees who took ill after the leakage of poisonous gas at the Bhilai Steel Plant have been discharged from hospital, the Steel Authority of India said on Saturday in a statement.

The condition of the four employees, who had been taken to hospital with 26 others following the June 12 incident in which six people died, is stable and they are out of danger, it said.

"Out of the eight persons who were in hospital till last evening, four have been released from the hospital following necessary treatment and the remaining four are stable and out of danger," SAIL said.

The gas leak occurred at about 18:10 hrs on June 12 from the blast furnace gas cleaning plant after a breakdown in water pump house No. 2, according to preliminary information.

SAIL Chairman C S Verma, who has been stationed at the plant site since the evening of the fateful day, met the bereaved family members and condoled their loss.

Verma said they were still coming to terms with the loss of six skilled and experienced bravehearts.

"Their vacuum will always be felt at work as well as in their homes," he said.

Verma met the patients and enquired about their medical care and well being.

The chairman has ordered a high-level enquiry into the incident by experts from outside, who will also recommend an action plan for the future.

Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who reached Bhilai on Friday evening, announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the next of kin of five deceased employees, including two deputy general managers, and Rs 10 lakh for the family of a contract employee who died in the incident.