Police officials at Korba said angry workers held Gannon Dunkerley and Company Ltd (GDCL) responsible for the tragedy as it is assigned the chimney construction work. They also manhandled GDCL officials, police said.

The under-construction thermal power plant of two units, each of 600 MW capacity, is owned by Balco, in which Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd holds 51 percent share while remaining 49 percent belongs to the Indian government.

The state government instructed the district collector and superintendent of police to register a first information report (FIR) against the Balco management for allegedly overlooking security aspects and announced a judicial probe into the chimney crash.

The state also announced compensation of Rs.100,000 to the family of each of those killed.