Vedanta Blast Toll Climbs to 23: Investigation Challenges Corporate Accountability After Fuel Accumulation Found

Vedanta Blast Toll Climbs to 23: Investigation Challenges Corporate Accountability After Fuel Accumulation Found​

The death toll at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has climbed to 23, following the critical industrial accident that occurred several days ago. Two additional workers succumbed to their injuries on Saturday, while a total of 12 injured individuals remain under care in various hospitals.

Officials confirmed that three of the injured workers are currently in a critical condition. The tragedy stemmed from an explosion that took place on April 14 within a steel tube that carried high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine.

Escalating Casualties and Victim Details​

The incident resulted in immediate loss of life, with four workers passing away on the spot. Over subsequent days, nine more workers succumbed to their injuries, with seven more dying in hospitals on April 15.

The confirmed increase in fatalities saw two more workers die this morning. They were identified as Subrata Kumar Jana, treated at Raigarh Medical College, and Upendra Sah, who received treatment at Kalda hospital Raipur. Both victims had sustained severe burns, estimated at around 90 per cent.

The list of deceased laborers was diverse, including seven from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, four from Jharkhand, three from Uttar Pradesh, and two each from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Technical Findings and Focus on Negligence Charges​

Police have registered an FIR under sections relating to causing death by negligence and negligent conduct with machinery. Preliminary technical investigations into the blast revealed a crucial contributing factor.

Both the police and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to a pressure build-up. This accumulation and subsequent excessive pressure were cited as the primary causes of the catastrophic explosion.

The legal process has begun with eight to ten individuals named in the FIR. These names include Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and plant head Devendra Patel. Police officials confirmed that further names will be added if more individuals are found responsible during the investigation.

Government Response and Calls for Transparency​

In response to the disaster, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai directed the Commissioner of Bilaspur division to conduct a probe into the incident. The state’s General Administration Department subsequently appointed the Commissioner, Bilaspur Division, to act as the inquiry officer.

The incident has sparked calls for heightened accountability. The Congress has demanded that stricter charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder be invoked against those responsible.

Industrialist Naveen Jindal publicly questioned the legal process, criticizing the immediate naming of the chairman before any thorough investigation. He emphasized that proper compensation, livelihood support for the families, and a comprehensive investigation are non-negotiable aspects of the aftermath.

Jindal noted that the standard practice in public sector undertakings (PSUs) and railways is to investigate first and establish responsibility based on evidence. He stressed that the same standard must apply to the private sector to maintain investor confidence and support India’s #ViksitBharat vision.

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