4 workers killed after hopper collapses at alumina refinery in Chhattisgarh

Four workers were killed, and one sustained injuries after a hopper filled with coal collapsed on them at an alumina refinery in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district on Sunday, police said.

The incident occurred around 11 am at Maa Kudargarhi Alumina Refinery in Silsila village under the Raghunathpur police chowki, an official said.

A steel tower-mounted hopper filled with coal collapsed and fell on ten men working below it, he said.

A police team rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation, he said.

The official said, “Bodies of four workers were retrieved from the site, and one worker was found in a critical condition and hospitalised.”

The search and rescue operation has been called off, he said, adding that five other workers escaped unhurt.

The deceased were identified as Prince Thakur (25) and Manoj Singh Rajput (34), both residents of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, and Karanveer Manjhi (22) and Ramesnar Manjhi from Bihar, the official said.

A probe has been initiated into the incident, he said.