Lightning strike causes roof collapse, fire at Kolaghat power station

Kolaghat: A massive fire broke out at the Kolaghat Thermal Power Station in Mecheda on Thursday evening after a severe lightning strike during heavy rain across East Midnapore district, causing the roof of the 210MW unit 3 turbine room to collapse.The strike, which occurred around 7pm, triggered a blaze that gutted the turbine, control room, and boiler. Two workers -- Swarnakamal Barman and Kamal Mondal -- sustained minor injuries and were discharged after primary treatment. Local police and fire tenders brought the flames under control.The incident has raised questions over the facility’s lightning protection system, especially since unit 3 had recently undergone a Rs 150-200 crore renovation. Narayan Chandra Nayak, spokesperson for Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant Environmental Pollution Prevention Committee, demanded a transparent probe, noting that the fire completely destroyed the newly upgraded unit. Plant authorities and police have initiated an investigation to evaluate the structural damage.