Kudankulam:
A man working at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant today died after he was electrocuted. The victim, identified as Alok Taray from Odisha, was working as a contract labourer.
Authorities say the accident occurred in an underground tunnel in the plant's second unit during cabling work and they suspect the victim might have violated safety norms.
"An investigation on this accident will soon begin; none would be spared, all parties including the main contractor, sub-contractor and many others would be questioned," Anbumani, the Public Relations Officer of the plant, told NDTV.
The People's Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which has been spearheading the campaign against the nuclear plant, alleges that the accident took place at the plant's first unit and that authorities are covering up the incident to avoid tough questions. However, plant have officials dismissed the allegations.
The commissioning of Unit I of the Rs. 14,000 crore project has been delayed by more than a year due to protests by locals who have raised concerns citing the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. They allege the plant is unsafe and once commissioned, would affect the marine population and consequently, their livelihood. Two government-appointed committees have certified the plant to be safe, saying that public fears are unfounded. The Supreme Court is presently hearing a petition against commissioning of the plant.