Police have named Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal in the first information report (FIR) filed in connection with the boiler explosion at the group’s power plant that killed 20 workers and injured 15 others at Singitara in Chhattisgarh.
In a statement, Chhattisgarh Police cited a preliminary technical report and said it indicated that excessive accumulation of fuel inside the boiler furnace led to high pressure and caused the explosion, echoing the Forensic Science Laboratory report.
The police said that an FIR was registered against Agarwal, company director Devendra Patel, and others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including 106 (1) and 289, relating to causing death by negligence and negligent conduct in relation to machinery, based on the available evidence and technical findings.
A Vedanta spokesperson declined to comment on the FIR even as police said a detailed investigation was underway in coordination with technical experts and legal action would be taken against those found responsible.
On April 14, Vedanta said the explosion occurred at one of the boiler units at its Singitarai plant, and involved personnel from its subcontractor, NTPC GE Power Services Limited. The company said that its immediate priority is to provide the best possible medical assistance to the affected workers, and that it is coordinating closely with medical teams and local authorities.
Police cited the investigation and said that Vedanta and the subcontractor failed to adhere to standard norms regarding maintenance and operation of machines. They added that lapses in maintenance and operational negligence led to fluctuations in boiler pressure, which ultimately led to the accident.
