Vedanta Plant Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 24; FIR Against Anil Agarwal Triggers Political War of Words

RAIPUR: The death toll in the massive boiler explosion at the Vedanta Power Plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has climbed to 24, as two more workers succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The incident has now spiraled into a major political and corporate controversy following the registration of an FIR against Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal and nine others.

Fatalities mount in Sakti

The tragedy, which occurred on April 14 at the Singhitarai-based plant, initially reported four immediate casualties. However, the scale of the disaster has expanded as several workers who were shifted to private hospitals in Raipur and Raigarh lost their lives.

According to hospital sources, 12 workers remain under intensive care, with several still in critical condition. The blast, which took place at approximately 2:00 PM in Boiler Unit-1, left 36 workers with severe burn injuries.

Anil Agarwal named in FIR

Following a preliminary investigation by the Industrial Safety Department, the Dabhara police registered an FIR against top management, including Chairman Anil Agarwal. The probe, led by Boiler Inspector Ujjwal Gupta, highlighted "gross negligence" regarding safety protocols and maintenance.

The report submitted to SP Prafulla Thakur suggests that the operational standards required for high-pressure boilers were bypassed. This led to the immediate police action against the top brass, a move rarely seen in industrial accidents involving major conglomerates.

Jindal questions police action

Industrialist Naveen Jindal has come out in defense of Anil Agarwal, questioning the rationale behind naming a Chairman in an FIR before a technical probe is completed. Taking to social media platform X, Jindal expressed concern over the precedent being set for the private sector.

"When accidents occur in government companies or the Railways, do we name the Chairman in the FIR? No. The same standards should apply to the private sector," Jindal stated. He emphasized that responsibility should be fixed only after a thorough evidence-based investigation.

Baghel hits back at Jindal

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched a scathing attack on both the state government and the industrialists. Responding to Jindal’s support for Agarwal, Baghel used the Hindi proverb "Chor-Chor Mausere Bhai" (birds of a feather flock together) to describe the solidarity between the corporate giants.

Baghel alleged that the government is shielding the culprits while the lives of laborers are being treated as expendable. "Is there no value for a worker’s life? Will mere compensation suffice? They deserve justice, and those responsible must face the law," the veteran leader told reporters.

Role of NGSL investigated

The investigation has now turned its focus toward NTPC-GE Power Services Limited (NGSL), the agency responsible for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant. Reports indicate that Vedanta had handed over the O&M contract to NGSL last year.

Project Head Rajesh Saxena and the maintenance team are currently under the scanner. Officials are examining whether the periodic monitoring and technical fault detection protocols, which were the primary responsibility of NGSL, were strictly followed leading up to the April 14 blast.

Widespread grief and protests

Heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the Raigarh Medical College, where post-mortems were conducted. Family members of the deceased, many of whom had traveled from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have demanded stringent action against the management.

The incident has also brought to light another recent tragedy at a Raigarh carbon plant, where a young girl and her father were among four killed. The recurring nature of such industrial accidents in the region has sparked calls for a complete audit of safety standards across Chhattisgarh’s industrial belt.

Future outlook and safety

The state government has ordered a high-level technical inquiry into the blast. While the Vedanta PRO confirmed that the responsibility for Unit-1 lay with NGSL, the police maintain that the principal employer cannot be absolved of liability.

As the political heat intensifies, the industry is closely watching the legal proceedings against the Vedanta Chairman. The outcome of this case is expected to set a significant benchmark for corporate accountability in India's industrial sector. This remains a developing story in the latest news today.

Chhattisgarh Vedanta Plant Accident: Death Toll Rises to 24

One more injured worker died on Sunday morning in the Chhattisgarh Vedanta plant accident, taking the total fatalities from the boiler blast at Singhitrai power plant in Sakti district to 24. The explosion on April 14 afternoon had left 36 workers with burn injuries. Twelve of them continue to receive treatment at hospitals in Raigarh and Raipur.

Death Toll Climbs Sharply

The latest victim breathed his last at Raigarh Medical College. Earlier, three workers had succumbed to their injuries in the past 24 hours, including two at a private hospital in Raipur. Four workers had died on the spot when the boiler in Unit-1 exploded around 2:33 pm on April 14.

FIR Filed Against Top Officials

Police at Dhabra police station registered an FIR against Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal and nine others after the Industrial Safety Department flagged serious maintenance lapses. The preliminary probe report submitted to the Superintendent of Police pointed to negligence in operations and upkeep of the boiler system.

Jindal Flags Concerns Over FIR

Industrialist Naveen Jindal questioned the decision to name Anil Agarwal in the FIR even before a full investigation. In a social media post, he described it as a matter of serious concern and stressed that evidence should first establish liability. Jindal added that the same standard applied to government entities should hold for the private sector as well. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also raised questions about the FIR process, claiming journalists were told that higher authorities had barred sharing of the copy.

NGSL's Operations Under Lens

Operation and maintenance of the plant rested with NGSL, the 50:50 joint venture between NTPC and GE Power India Limited. Project head Rajesh Saxena and the site in-charge, both senior-level officers, handled daily operations of Unit-1 and boiler maintenance. Officials confirmed that NGSL was responsible for regular monitoring, timely detection of technical faults, and adherence to safety norms.

Probe Points to Maintenance Lapses

Investigators found that excessive unburnt fuel had accumulated inside the boiler furnace, triggering a sharp pressure surge within one to two seconds. The boiler load had been ramped up rapidly from 350 MW to nearly 590 MW in a short span. The pressure wave displaced the lower piping system and caused the blast. The Industrial Safety Department also noted repeated issues with the PA fan and failure of backup systems. A team led by ASP Pankaj Patel is now conducting further inquiries.

Compensation for Victims' Families

Vedanta has announced ₹35 lakh and a job for the family of each deceased worker and ₹15 lakh for the injured. The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund will release ₹2 lakh per deceased family and ₹50,000 for each injured worker. The Chhattisgarh government has pledged an additional ₹5 lakh to kin of the dead and ₹50,000 to the injured. Post-mortems were conducted at Raigarh Medical College.

Magisterial Inquiry Initiated

Collector Amrit Vikas Topno has ordered a magisterial inquiry that must submit its report within 30 days. The probe will establish the exact sequence of events, identify those responsible, examine technical and human factors, review past inspections, and recommend steps to prevent similar accidents. Police and safety officials continue to examine the roles of all officers linked to operations and maintenance.

As authorities intensify the probe into the Chhattisgarh Vedanta plant accident, families await clarity on accountability while the power sector watches closely for outcomes that could shape future safety protocols across similar facilities.