Raipur: The death toll in the explosion at the Vedanta power station in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has risen to 20, with seven more workers succumbing to their injuries, police said on Wednesday.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel pipe carrying high-pressure steam from a boiler to a turbine at the plant in Singitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burns.
Sakti Superintendent of Police Praful Thakur said a total of 36 workers were affected in the accident. “The toll has now risen to 20, while 16 injured workers are undergoing treatment in Raipur and Raigarh hospitals,” he added.
Officials said that four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to their injuries shortly after the accident. Seven other workers later died in hospitals.
The identity of the deceased has been identified and their families are being contacted, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno said, adding that arrangements are being made to transport the bodies to their native villages after death, along with immediate financial assistance.
The district administration ordered a judicial investigation into the incident. In an order issued on April 14, the collector said that the accident occurred in boiler unit No. 1 due to a technical failure in the water supply pipeline connection to the boiler steam pipe. The investigation to be conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Aldabra, will examine the sequence of events, identify the workers present, assess whether the cause was technical or due to human negligence, review safety inspections, and determine liability. The officer has been directed to submit a report within 30 days.
According to officials, the deceased include workers from multiple states — five each from Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, three from Jharkhand, and two each from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced compensation $5 thousand to the relatives of each deceased $50,000 for the injured.
Vedanta Power announced $35,000 compensation to the family of each deceased worker, in addition to employment support. The company will also provide $15 lakh to each injured worker, ensuring continuity of salary during recovery, and providing counseling support, according to a statement.
The statement said: “A comprehensive investigation has been opened in coordination with our partner and the relevant authorities.”
The Prime Minister separately ordered an investigation into the incident by the Bilaspur Divisional Commissioner, assuring strict action against those found responsible.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the factory management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the communications wing of the state Congress, alleged negligence on the part of the factory management and accused the government of trying to protect officials. student $1 Crore compensation to the families of the deceased $50 thousand for the injured
The 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) at Singitarai was originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Company Limited. Construction began in 2009 but remained halted between 2016 and 2022. Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, following which a 600 MW unit was commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is still under construction.
The plant management said in a statement on Tuesday that the incident occurred in one of the boiler units at its Singitarai plant, and involved employees of the subcontractor, NTPC GE Power Services Limited, which operates and maintains the unit.
