BALCO mishap: Chinese embassy officer arrives in Korba

Korba, Chhattisgarh, Jan 17 : China government has expressed concern over the arrest of three officials of Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation (SEPCO) in chimney collapse of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) in Chhattisgarh's Korba district. Superintendent of Police Ratanlal Dangi said a senior official from Chinese Embassy had arrived here and was discussing with legal expert. SEPCO's counsel B K Shukla confirmed the arrival of senior officer from Chinese Embassy Wung Ming Hui, but he did not divulge the details of his visit. However, unconfirmed report said Mr Hui was collecting information from Mr Shukla about the release of SEPCO's officials. Altogether 41 labourers were killed when the chimney of under construction 1200 MW power plant collapsed on September 23. SEPCO's officals were arrested on January 11. Earlier, two officers and an engineer of BALCO and the Project Manager of Gannon Dunkerley and Company Limited (GDCL), the contractor for the construction of chimney, were arrested on November 16.