RAIPUR
At least 17 workers died and 36 others were injured after a massive boiler explosion at the Vedanta Power Plant in Singhitrai, Sakti district on Tuesday afternoon. The tragic incident has triggered widespread outrage, with opposition leaders calling it a case of “criminal negligence” rather than an accident.
The explosion occurred around 2 PM, creating chaos at the site as workers rushed to escape. Four workers died on the spot, while others succumbed during treatment — five at Raigarh Medical College, six at District Hospital Raigarh, and two at Kalda Hospital Raipur. Currently, 17 injured workers remain under treatment.
Opposition Alleges Negligence
Congress state president Deepak Baij termed the incident a “murder”, demanding ₹1 crore compensation for families of the deceased and ₹50 lakh for the injured.
Former Deputy CM TS Singh Deo questioned administrative lapses, highlighting the absence of an ambulance at the plant during the emergency.
Chandrapur MLA Ramkumar Yadav alleged that the plant, earlier known as Athena Power, was poorly maintained after being taken over by Vedanta and that machinery was overused without proper repairs.
Korba MP Jyotsna Charandas Mahant pointed to repeated safety violations and demanded an FIR against management along with a high-level probe.
Government Announces Compensation
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep grief and assured strict action against those responsible. The state government announced:
- ₹5 lakh for families of deceased
- ₹50,000 for injured
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also announced:
- ₹2 lakh compensation for deceased families
- ₹50,000 for injured from PMNRF
Meanwhile, Vedanta management:
- ₹35 lakh compensation + job to one family member of each deceased
- ₹15 lakh for injured
Probe Ordered, Congress Forms Panel
Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
At the same time, Congress formed a 9-member investigation committee led by Jaisingh Agrawal, which will:
- Visit the incident site
- Meet victims’ families
- Submit a detailed report
Families Allege Information Suppression
After the blast, family members gathered outside the plant, alleging that the management hid information about missing workers. Officials confirmed many victims were from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, along with locals from Chhattisgarh.
Labour Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan assured that strict action will be taken based on the investigation findings.
