Raipur/Sakti, April 16 (IANS) The death toll from the boiler explosion at the Vedanta Power Plant in Singhitarai village in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, has risen to 20 on Thursday, with 15 workers still battling injuries in hospitals.

The tragic incident, which took place on April 14, at 2:33 p.m., has sent shockwaves through the industrial belt of Chhattisgarh.

The massive blast in boiler ripped through the facility, instantly triggering panic and widespread devastation among workers on shift.

Local police, led by Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, rushed to the site and launched an on-ground investigation.

The injured were swiftly transported to multiple hospitals in Raigarh district, including Medical College Hospital, Apex Hospital, and Metro Hospital.

While medical teams fought to save lives, 20 workers ultimately succumbed to severe burn injuries and trauma.

A preliminary technical report from the Chief Boiler Inspector pointed to excessive fuel buildup inside the furnace, which caused dangerous pressure surges and displaced critical piping, leading to the catastrophic failure.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti backed these findings, confirming fuel overload as the main trigger.

Further probes revealed serious lapses in maintenance and safety protocols by Vedanta Limited and its contractor NGSL.

Reports highlighted repeated negligence in equipment upkeep and failure to address pressure fluctuations, raising uncomfortable questions about corporate accountability in high-risk industrial operations.

Taking strong note of the evident violations, Superintendent of Police (SP) Praful Thakur ordered the registration of an FIR at Dabhara police station.

The case has been filed against Vedanta Director Anil Agarwal, Plant Manager Devendra Patel, and other officials under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — 106(1), 289, and 3(5) — for causing death by negligence and endangering lives.

A dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel and including Sub Divisional Police Officer Sumit Gupta, forensic expert Srishti Singh, and Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, has been formed to conduct a thorough probe with technical experts.

Authorities have promised stringent action and full support to the grieving families.

The accident has ignited widespread anger among labour unions and local communities, who are demanding stricter enforcement of industrial safety norms and swift justice.

As investigations intensify, this incident has once again spotlighted the urgent need for robust safety measures in India’s power sector to prevent such preventable tragedies.

–IANS

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