The collapse unfolded at 7:30 p.m. Saturday as crew members were installing a 30‑m section of the plant's chimney, a key component for venting emissions. Four workers on the site died instantly when the structure gave way.
The Asansol plant, part of a state‑run expansion to add 700 MW of coal‑fired capacity, was in the middle of building its flue system when the failure occurred. The chimney was designed to channel smoke from the new boiler but its support framework failed during the final assembly.
Fire and rescue teams rushed to the scene within minutes, but the tip of the collapsing segment had already struck a nearby support beam, triggering a secondary collapse. The injured were transported to the nearest hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
In response, the West Bengal government ordered an immediate halt to all construction activities at the site and will conduct a safety audit. The plant’s management has pledged to review all ongoing projects to prevent a recurrence.
The incident has sparked concerns about construction safety standards across the state’s rapidly expanding power sector. A meeting between the public works department and the plant’s supervisors is slated for Monday to outline corrective measures.