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Earlier, news agency ANI had reported that rescue efforts were underway and a fire engine from Atmakur Fire Station, NagarKurnool was deployed to douse the fire.
Expressing his condolences at the loss of lives, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has directed additional DG of CID, Govind Singh, to launch an investigation into the incident.
Of the 17 persons reported to be present at the spot, 8 persons escaped to safety through a tunnel. Those trapped include six TS Genco employees and three private company employees.
Firefighters were rushed to the spot and trying to rescue the trapped including a deputy engineer and assistant engineers. Officials said thick smoke is hampering rescue operations.
Telangana minister Jagadish Reddy and TS Genco CMD Prabhakar Rao reached the spot and analysed the situation after the Srisailam Plant Fire.
Reddy said that the mishap occurred in the first unit of the power station and four panels were damaged. He said that rescue personnel was unable to enter the tunnel due to thick smoke.
Rescue personnel is being brought in from the Singareni collieries to support the rescue operations.
Power generation operations at the power station have been suspended following the Hydroelectric Plant Fire.
(With agency inputs)
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