Bhubaneswar, May 5: Three workers lost their lives in a tragic accident at a sponge iron factory, Sri Metallics Plant, under Nisha police station limits in Angul district on Monday evening, raising concerns over safety and response protocols.

The deceased have been identified as Mangal Majhi, Pintu Kumar, and Sridhar Bagei, all natives of Sundargarh district. According to reports, the trio was engaged in maintenance work inside the plant when the mishap occurred under unclear circumstances.

Following the incident, the workers sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Hindol Hospital. However, doctors declared all three brought dead.

Allegations have surfaced that there was a delay in rescuing the workers, with claims that they remained trapped for hours before being taken out late in the night. It is also being alleged that the victims were initially admitted to Hindol Hospital without promptly informing the police, reportedly under the pretext of shifting them to Cuttack for advanced treatment.

The delay in reporting the incident has raised questions about compliance with industrial safety norms and emergency response procedures at the plant.

Police have initiated an inquiry into the incident to ascertain the exact cause of the mishap and examine the alleged lapses. Further investigation is underway, and officials said appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.

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