20 workers injured as IFFCO plant's silo collapses

At least 20 workers were injured, eight of them critically, when the roof of a silo caved in at an Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) plant here today.

"The steel and asbestos structure collapsed today and rescue operation is on. Many are feared to be trapped under the rubble," Additional SP (Paradip) Bijay Sahu said.

The injured are being treated at nearby hospitals. Those critical have been shifted to private hospitals in Cuttack, he said.

IFFCO unit's Executive Director MR Patel said the silo was properly maintained.

He said that the accident must have taken place due to rapid corrosion in view of its proximity to the sea.

The structure with the capacity to store 45,000 tonnes of material was used for storing fertilisers.

Fire brigade, ambulance and emergency service personnel from IFFCO, Paradip Port Trust and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were pressed into service and rescue operations are in full swing, the SP said.