10 killed, over 30 injured after blast at Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh; toll may rise

A deadly boiler explosion at a Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh has left at least 10 workers dead and many injured, but with rescue operations ongoing, the final toll and cause remain uncertain.

In Short

• Panic inside plant premises as explosion sparks chaos and rush to escape
• Fears of fatalities, but no official confirmation yet
• Injured shifted to nearby hospitals; rescue and relief teams at site

At least 10 workers have died and over 30 others have been injured after a major explosion at a Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh, with several in critical condition following one of the state’s worst industrial accidents in recent times.

The incident took place on April 14 in Sakti district around 2:30 pm, when workers were on their lunch break, triggering panic and a large-scale emergency response.

Officials confirmed that 33 workers were injured in the blast, of whom 23 are in critical condition and undergoing treatment.

Four workers died on the spot, while six others succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospital, taking the death toll to 10.

According to preliminary findings, the incident was triggered by the bursting of a pipeline carrying hot water, leading to severe burn injuries among workers present at the site.

Earlier reports had indicated a boiler-related explosion, with officials now working to establish the exact cause.

The injured workers have been admitted to hospitals in neighbouring Raigarh district, including OP Jindal Fortis Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment under close supervision.

Authorities said the condition of several injured remains critical.

Rescue operations have now been called off, with officials confirming that all affected workers have been evacuated from the site.

Senior officials, including the district collector and police teams, rushed to the spot soon after the incident and supervised rescue and relief efforts.

Authorities have ordered a probe to ascertain the exact cause of the incident, and further investigation is underway.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the incident as “heart-wrenching” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

He directed officials to ensure immediate medical care and said, “A thorough and impartial probe will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible.”

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Ram Kumar Yadav staged a protest outside the plant, demanding adequate compensation for the victims and accountability from the administration.

The plant management said, “An unfortunate incident occurred at one of the boiler units at our Singhitarai plant, involving personnel from our sub-contractor, NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Limited), which operates and maintains the unit.”

“Our immediate priority is to ensure the best possible medical assistance and treatment to those affected, and we are closely coordinating with medical teams and local authorities,” it said.

“We are in the process of ascertaining details, and a thorough investigation has been initiated in coordination with our partner and relevant authorities.”

- Ends
With inputs from Durgesh Yadav and Naresh Sharma