Explosion during welding demonstration at NIT Durgapur injures professor, students
Times of India | 16 April 2025
Durgapur: An explosion during the practical demonstration of ‘Thermit welding' for mechanical engineering final-year students on the National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus in Durgapur resulted in severe burn injuries to a professor and two students.
Prof Indrajit Basak, who was conducting the demonstration, received critical burns that covered 82%-90% of his body. He was rushed to a private hospital near Gandhi More in the steel township, where doctors confirmed the severity of his burns and began treatment. A female student's hair caught fire, while a male student injured his fingers. Both were discharged after treatment.
‘Thermit welding' involves a chemical process for joining metal components. The incident occurred around noon in an outdoor area with final-year students observing their senior-most departmental professor conducting the experiment. During the demonstration, the ignition of aluminium powder in a furnace appeared to have produced hydrogen gas unexpectedly, said sources. This chemical reaction generated intense heat within the furnace.
The professor suffered serious burns due to his proximity to the furnace. Reports indicated that an air ambulance was being sent from Delhi to transfer the him to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
NIT Durgapur Director Arvind Choubey said, "I came to the private hospital around 3 pm after hearing about the incident. Prof Basak, the former director, is undergoing treatment. We haven't yet received a full report from the dept. Once we get it, we will be able to understand how the accident happened."
Durgapur: An explosion during the practical demonstration of ‘Thermit welding' for mechanical engineering final-year students on the National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus in Durgapur resulted in severe burn injuries to a professor and two students.
Prof Indrajit Basak, who was conducting the demonstration, received critical burns that covered 82%-90% of his body. He was rushed to a private hospital near Gandhi More in the steel township, where doctors confirmed the severity of his burns and began treatment. A female student's hair caught fire, while a male student injured his fingers. Both were discharged after treatment.
‘Thermit welding' involves a chemical process for joining metal components. The incident occurred around noon in an outdoor area with final-year students observing their senior-most departmental professor conducting the experiment. During the demonstration, the ignition of aluminium powder in a furnace appeared to have produced hydrogen gas unexpectedly, said sources. This chemical reaction generated intense heat within the furnace.
The professor suffered serious burns due to his proximity to the furnace. Reports indicated that an air ambulance was being sent from Delhi to transfer the him to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
NIT Durgapur Director Arvind Choubey said, "I came to the private hospital around 3 pm after hearing about the incident. Prof Basak, the former director, is undergoing treatment. We haven't yet received a full report from the dept. Once we get it, we will be able to understand how the accident happened."