An FIR has been filed against Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal and other officials after a boiler blast at a Chhattisgarh power plant killed 20 workers and injured several others.
An FIR has been registered against Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, along with company manager Devendra Patel and other officials, in connection with the boiler blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district that killed 20 workers, police said.
According to Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur, the FIR was lodged at Dabhra police station under sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “Eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, have been named in the FIR. If more persons are found responsible during the investigation, their names will be added,” Thakur said.
The explosion occurred on April 14 at the plant in Singhitarai village when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine burst, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries. The incident claimed 20 lives and left 16 persons injured.
Police said a preliminary technical investigation found that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to a pressure build-up, triggering the explosion. “According to an initial report submitted by the Chief Boiler Inspector, the excessive fuel inside the furnace generated high pressure, causing a blast in the boiler. The pressure forced a lower pipe of the boiler out of its designated position, resulting in the severe accident,” a police statement said.
A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti also confirmed that the accumulation of fuel and the resulting excessive pressure were the primary causes of the explosion.
During the probe, officials found that Vedanta and its contractor NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Limited) failed to properly adhere to maintenance and operational standards for machinery and equipment. “Lapses in upkeep and negligent operation led to sudden fluctuations in boiler pressure, ultimately causing the accident. Based on the available evidence and technical findings, negligence has been established prima facie, following which an FIR was lodged,” the statement said.
Police said a technical team has been constituted to investigate the cause of the blast, and several reports are awaited, including post-mortem reports of the deceased and findings from the forensic science laboratory and the industrial health and safety department. Additional sections may be added based on the findings.
