Vedanta Plant Blast Death Toll Rises to 24 in Chhattisgarh

Vedanta Plant Blast Death Toll Rises to 24 in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR/SAKTI, Apr 20 (VoM News): As per officials, the death toll in the blast at a Vedanta Ltd power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has risen to 24.

The count rises to 24 after another injured worker succumbed during treatment, officials said on Sunday.

The deceased, a resident of Jharkhand, died at Raigarh Medical College, six days after sustaining severe burn injuries in the April 14 explosion.

Officials said around a dozen injured workers are still undergoing treatment at various hospitals, with at least three reported to be in critical condition.

Officials said that two workers had died during treatment on Saturday which were identified as Subrata Kumar Jana from West Bengal and Upendra Sah from Jharkhand. Both had suffered nearly 90 percent burn injuries.

The explosion occurred at the plant located in Singhitarai village on April 14, when a high-pressure steam tube connecting the boiler to the turbine ruptured, caused a massive blast, in which 04 workers died on the spot, while several others succumbed to injuries in the following days.

The victims include labourers from multiple states, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.

Regarding this, the authorities have registered a case under sections related to causing death by negligence and unsafe handling of machinery against several individuals, including Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and plant head Devendra Patel.

A preliminary probe, supported by findings from the Forensic Science Laboratory, indicated that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to a dangerous pressure build-up, triggering the explosion.

Further investigation is underway.