Raipur, April 17: The Chhattisgarh government on Friday ordered a high-level inquiry into the fatal accident at Vedanta Power Limited in Sakti district, appointing the Commissioner of Bilaspur Division as the inquiry officer. The development comes as the death toll from the April 14 explosion rose to 21 after another worker succumbed to injuries at a private hospital.
The General Administration Department (GAD) issued the formal order for the probe into the mishap, which occurred at Boiler Unit-1 of the plant in Singhitarai village. Preliminary reports suggest a technical fault at the joint between the water supply and steam pipes triggered the blast, causing several fatalities and leaving 14 others hospitalised, five of whom remain in critical condition.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed officials to ensure a “fair and swift” investigation, asserting that strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the lapse. The Bilaspur Commissioner has been tasked with determining the exact cause of the incident and recommending safety measures to prevent future recurrences. The report must be submitted to the state government within 30 days.
Earlier, the Sakti police registered an FIR at Dabhra police station against 19 individuals, including Vedanta Chairman Anil Agrawal and plant head Devendra Patel. The case was lodged under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A preliminary technical report by the Chief Boiler Inspector indicated that excessive fuel accumulation inside the furnace led to a pressure build-up, causing the high-pressure steam tube to burst. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel, is currently examining potential maintenance failures by the plant management and its contractor, NGSL.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the kin of each deceased worker and ₹50,000 for those injured. Separately, Vedanta has committed ₹35 lakh in compensation and employment support to the families of the deceased.