Nine workers killed, 15 injured in blast at power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district

According to preliminary information, the blast occurred in a boiler tube at a power plant in Singhitarai village in the afternoon.

Nine workers were killed and 15 others injured after a boiler exploded at a power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district on Tuesday, police said.

Local administration and police teams rushed to the spot.

According to preliminary information, the blast occurred in a boiler tube at the Vedanta Limited power plant in Singhitarai village in the afternoon, Sakti superintendent of police (SP) Prafull Thakur said.

“Nine workers have died, and 15 have sustained injuries. Three victims were killed on the spot, while others succumbed to injuries at hospitals,” Thakur said.

The injured are undergoing treatment at hospitals in neighbouring Raigarh district, he added.

In a statement, the plant management said the incident occurred at one of the boiler units at its Singhitarai plant, involving personnel from its sub-contractor, NTPC GE Power Services Limited, which operates and maintains the unit.

“We are in the process of ascertaining details, and a thorough investigation has been initiated in coordination with our partner and relevant authorities,” the statement said, underlining that its immediate priority was to ensure the best possible medical assistance to those affected.

Officials said local administration and police teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident and joined the rescue operations. Operations are underway to ascertain if more persons are trapped at the site, officials said.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the incident was “extremely tragic”. Sai said a probe would be conducted and strict action taken against those found responsible.

Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij said the “extremely tragic and painful” incident, which he said, took place due to negligence by the plant management and administration.

“This is not an accident but a killing. Under BJP’s misgovernance, deaths in industrial accidents are not stopping,” Baij said, targeting the ruling party. He also demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of the deceased and ₹50 lakh each for the injured.

Days after boiler explosion at Gujarat factory

This incident comes just days after a boiler explosion triggered a fire at a factory godown in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, killing 21 people and injuring six others.

It was later found that the factory, located on Dhunva Road in Deesa town was also illegal. Its application in December last year seeking renewal of its licence was rejected following an adverse report by the police after an inspection, wherein they found no safety measures there, according to an earlier HT report.

“All the deceased people were originally from Harda and Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh,” district collector Mihir Patel said. The blast allegedly occurred at the godown where firecrackers were stored, causing the roof to collapse on workers, CP Patel, resident additional collector of Banaskantha, said.

Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel had stated that no licence had been issued for the facility, adding that the injured were rushed to the hospital following the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also expressed condolences, stating, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the explosion at a firecracker factory in Banaskantha, Gujarat. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.”

PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased, and compensation of ₹50,000 for the injured.

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel had also announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 compensation for those injured in the incident.