Raipur
A massive boiler explosion at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has claimed 20 lives and left 36 injured. Police have registered an FIR against company chairman Anil Agarwal, the plant head, and eight other officials.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the plant management allegedly ignored safety regulations to boost production. Operations continued despite repeated warnings, leading to a critical pressure spike that caused the explosion.
According to the industrial safety department report, there was an excessive accumulation of fuel in the furnace, resulting in abnormal pressure. A boiler pipe displacement triggered the blast. Reports suggest the load was increased from 350 MW to 590 MW, creating instability that led to the tragedy.
The incident occurred on 14 April at 2:33 PM, where pressure built up within two seconds, leaving no time for a shutdown. The probe revealed negligence in machine maintenance and serious technical malfunctions.
Industries Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan visited the injured in Raigarh and ordered strict action against those responsible. Collector Amrit Vikas Topno has initiated a magisterial inquiry, with a report expected within 30 days.
Compensation details:
- Vedanta management: ₹35 lakh and a job for the next of kin of each deceased
- PMNRF: ₹2 lakh for the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured
- State government: ₹5 lakh for the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured
The investigation will focus on the exact cause, accountability, technical and human negligence, inspection protocols, and future safety measures. The incident has raised serious concerns over industrial safety standards in the region.
