A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan has been injured as improvised explosive device (IED) laid down by the Naxalites exploded in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, officials said.
"This is a very unfortunate incident. This rescue operation continued for 36 hours...we could remove the silo structure after a lot of effort. Further rescue operations can be now done easily..." Deputy CM Arun Sao said while speaking to the media.
Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Navneet Kaur Chhabra said that the FIR was lodged under sections 106 (1), 289 and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Patnaik said that the Panchayat Raj representatives including Sarpanches and Panchayat Samiti members of the Kirimira block in Odisha's Jharsuguda district were detained by Chhattisgarh police in Mahasamund.
Speaking to ANI, Mungeli SP Bhojram Patel said, "We received information that part of the chimney, silo collapsed at the smelting plant and some labourers got trapped underneath. Personnel from almost all departments are here. 3-4 people could be possibly trapped here."
"Labourers feared trapped at an iron-making factory in Sargaon, Mungeli after the silo structure of the factory collapsed. One injured labourer has been admitted to a hospital. Police and Administration are present at the spot. Rescue operation is underway," said Mungeli Collector Rahul D
The forces have deployed personnel in heavy numbers at the location of the incident. The blast was so powerful that it created a huge hole and cracks in the concrete road. Similarly, the remains of the vehicle were scattered for several meters.