Vedanta Plant Blast: FIR Against Anil Agarwal, 9 Others for Safety Lapses

20 Workers Confirmed Dead

At least 20 labourers have lost their lives following a catastrophic boiler explosion at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district. The death toll is expected to remain static as rescue operations conclude. Officials confirmed that 36 workers sustained severe burn injuries in the blast, which occurred during peak operational hours on April 14.

Criminal Charges Filed

Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal and Plant Head Devendra Patel. Sakti SP Prafull Thakur confirmed that the case was filed at the Dabhra police station based on a preliminary industrial safety report. The charges cite gross negligence in machinery maintenance and operational protocols.

Overpressure Led to Explosion

According to the Industrial Safety Department’s investigation, the blast occurred due to a sudden, uncontrollable rise in furnace pressure. Boiler Inspector Ujjwal Gupta stated that excess fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace created extreme pressure. Within one to two seconds, the bottom pipeline dislodged from its position, triggering the massive blast. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report corroborated these technical findings.

Production Rush Blamed

Sources indicated that management was allegedly rushing to double production output. Investigators found that the boiler load was sharply increased from 350 megawatts to nearly 590 megawatts within a very short timeframe. “The system was pushed beyond its threshold without adequate safety backups,” an official familiar with the probe told this portal. Repeated malfunctions in the PA fan and a failure in the piping system further compounded the risk.

Political Leaders Visit Site

Chhattisgarh’s Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Devangan visited the injured at hospitals in Raigadh. Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and state Congress chief Deepak Baij also met with the victims. Meanwhile, District Collector Amrit Vikas Topno has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy, demanding a detailed report within 30 days. The inquiry will examine technical culpability and the timeline of administrative inspections.

Compensation Announcements

The Vedanta management has announced a compensation of Rs 35 lakh and a job for the families of the deceased. Injured workers will receive Rs 15 lakh. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has pledged Rs 2 lakh per deceased family from the PMNRF, while the state government has promised Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the dead. Congress has demanded the compensation be hiked to Rs 1 crore.

What Happens Next

A special investigation team led by ASP Pankaj Patel is currently probing the criminal liability of the named executives. The magisterial inquiry will specifically look into whether the plant ignored previous technical warnings. As this English news portal India continues to follow this public interest story, authorities have confirmed that no further bodies remain trapped inside the damaged structure. This latest news today serves as a grim reminder of industrial safety enforcement gaps in the power sector.