Vedanta power plant blast in Chhattisgarh: 16 dead, multiple probes ordered

The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has risen to 16, with three more workers succumbing to injuries, police said on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village. The blast left several workers with severe burn injuries.

Three more workers died in hospitals, taking the toll to 16, Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur said.

While one of the workers died at a hospital in Raigarh, two others succumbed at a medical facility in the state capital Raipur, an industrial safety department official said.

Of the 18 other workers injured in the incident, four are admitted in Raipur, while 14 are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Raigarh district, he added.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Vedanta Power has also announced compensation of Rs 35 lakh for the family of each deceased worker, along with employment support. The company will provide Rs 15 lakh to each injured person, ensure salary continuation until recovery, and offer counselling support, according to a statement from the plant management.

The chief minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division and assured strict action against those found responsible.

The district administration has ordered a separate magisterial probe, while the company has initiated its own internal investigation.

The chief minister directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured and said that no negligence in their care would be tolerated.

Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno has appointed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dabhra to conduct the magisterial inquiry.

The SDM has been asked to submit a report within 30 days covering key aspects, including the cause of the accident, whether it was due to technical or human error, and details of safety inspections carried out at the plant.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.

State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday alleged negligence on the part of the plant management and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible.

He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured.

The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, began in 2009 but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022.

Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is under construction.

(With inputs from agencies)