Raipur, Oct 5 : The Chhattisgarh government Monday suspended a senior labour official after an under-construction chimney collapsed at a Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (Balco) power plant Sep 23, and left 45 workers killed under its debris.

Satyaprakash Verma, assistant labour commissioner, was suspended on chages of dereliction duty for remaining absent in the aftermath of the tragedy from Korba town without informing his senior, a state government statement said.

Sources say that suspension order was issued based on a report by Korba District Collector Ashok Agrawal.

Vedanta Resources controls Balco and the Indian government holds a 49-percent stake in it. (IANS)