Massive fire breaks out at Srisailam hydel power plant, killing 9 people

Nine people have died in a fire mishap inside the underground Srisailam left bank 900 (150x6) MW power house following an electrical shortcircuit that occured Thursday night. Of nine bodies recovered, three were identified as assistant engineers -- Sundar Naik, Mohan Kumar and Fathima. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao ordered a comprehensive enquiry by Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the cause of the accident. Govind Singh, CID’s additional director of police, has been appointed as the inquiry officer. 

Telangana power minister G Jagadeeshwar Reddy, who rushed to the spot along with top TSGenco officials, told reporters that the fire erupted possibly due to short circuit in the electric panels of the power house and it spread to other parts of the power house. There were 30 employees of TS Genco inside the powerhouse when the accident took place late on Thursday night. While six employees were rescued and brought out of the tunnel, 15 others managed to come out through the emergency exit route of the project. K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock over the unfortunate incident and described it as most tragic. Conveying his condolence to the families of those died in the mishap.