Eleven die in fire at India steel plant

ELEVEN people have been killed in a fire at a steel plant in Bhilai, India.

The fire occurred yesterday in a gas pipeline of a coke oven battery complex at the Bhilai steel plant operated by the Steel of Authority of India. The company reported yesterday that nine people had been killed and 14 others injured. PTI news agency reports that two of those admitted to a hospital burns unit have since died.

"The two had received over 80% burns," a spokesperson told PTI, adding that others remained in a critical condition.

The CEO of the steel plant has since been removed from his post and the general manger of the safety department and deputy general manager of the energy department have been suspended, India’s minister of steel Birender Singh told reporters.

In 2014, six people were killed and more than 30 injured in a gas leak at the plant.