The toll in the explosion at NTPC's Unchahar plant climbed to 29, with nine more deaths reported today, even as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders descended on the accident site and demanded a judicial probe.
Union Power Minister R K Singh also arrived at the site to oversee relief measures in what is one of the worst tragedies at a power plant in recent history and even came face to face with Rahul Gandhi at one point.
Singh announced Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of those killed in the accident. The Centre also ordered a probe by the NTPC's executive director into the incident while the state administration ordered a magisterial probe.