Four washed away in pipeline burst at Keralas Panniar power station

Four electricity board officials, including one assistant engineer, were killed and four others went missing after they were washed away in waters from a ruptured pipeline at the Panniar Power Station in Keralas Idukki town.

Idukki (Kerala), Sept 19 : Four electricity board officials, including one assistant engineer, were killed and four others went missing after they were washed away in waters from a ruptured pipeline at the Panniar Power Station in Kerala's Idukki town.

The officials were at the Panniar Power Station on an inspection on Tuesday when two water pipelines from a nearby reservoir burst, flooding the facility and washing the victims away.

Four bodies were recovered today. Search operation is on to locate the others.

The waters gushed out of the power station and eroded neighbouring settlements and forest area. At least 15 houses were submerged and 35 hectares of land eroded.

Kerala's Electricity Minister A K Balan, who rushed to the accident site, said: "The Government is taking all necessary steps in rehabilitating the families of victims and other villagers."

Damage to machinery at the 30-megawatt station has been estimated to be worth Rs. 150 million.

ANI