The independent report on Tamil Nadu Neyveli boiler blast in compliance with the National Green Tribunal order (in the matter of Original Application No. 108/2020).

[2]

The boiler blast of July 1, 2020 at thermal power station - II of M/s Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL), Neyveli, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu left 6 dead and 17 injured.

The root cause of the accident, according to the Committee was the insufficient knowledge amongst staff, insufficient knowledge of the chemical properties of lignite, especially formation of water gas when water is applied on the lignite in hot conditions, poor safety protocol, poor safety awareness, inadequate risk assessment and response, poor process safety management systems and failure in conducting awareness programs among all the employees and workers about handling the smoldering.

The onsite emergency plan prepared by the NLC lacked any measures to combat smoldering but only provided for fire occurrences and other accident scenarios. The NLC had no emergency plan to tackle the smoldering and water gas generation.