Breaking News: Massive Fire Breaks Out at NTPC Plant in Talcher (Videos)
A massive fire broke out at the Kaniha plant of NTPC in Talcher, Angul district on Saturday morning, triggering panic among staff and local residents.
The blazing fire was reported around 8:10 AM at the conveyor belts 15A and 15B as well as the coal transfer point 16 located between Unit 2 and Unit 3 of the thermal power plant.
Thick plumes of smoke filled the area as the fire went on, with authorities scrambling to extinguish the flames. More than two teams from the Odisha Fire Services Department were immediately pressed into service to control the blaze.
The CISF Fire Wing and the plant’s own disaster management team also responded to the incident. As a precautionary measure, Unit 3 (500 MW) was temporarily shut down to prevent the fire from spreading further. The other units are reported to be operating normally.
While no casualties have been reported so far, one CISF personnel suffered minor injuries during the firefighting operations and received first aid.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be related to the coal being transported on the conveyor belts, but authorities are still ascertaining the exact trigger.
In an official statement, NTPC stated that the fire was completely extinguished following a swift response. “The root cause and extent of damage is being assessed. Necessary repair work will begin soon,” the statement added.
Visuals from the spot showed the massive flames and clouds of smoke rising into the sky, leading to tense moments before the situation was brought under control by the combined efforts of multiple firefighting teams.
This is a developing situation, and additional information from NTPC officials about the impact of the incident and the efforts being taken to restore regular operations at the plant is expected soon.
