Sixteen people, mostly labourers, were killed and 19 injured when superheated steam generated from a boiler tube blast rained on them at a Vedanta Limited power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district Tuesday afternoon.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident, said Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno, adding that the best-possible treatment will be provided to those injured.
The blast is said to have occurred around 2.30 pm at Vedanta’s Singhitarai power plant. “After the pipeline burst, superheated steam with a temperature of around 600 degrees fell on the people who were having their lunch. Some others who were walking in open spaces also got injured,” said a senior official from the district.
In a statement, Vedanta Limited Chhattisgarh Thermal Power Plant said, “We regret to inform you that an incident has occurred at the Unit 1 boiler of our plant in Singhitarai in the afternoon of 14 April 2026, involving personnel of our business partner, NGSL.”
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the best possible medical assistance and treatment for all those affected. We are extending full support to the injured and are closely coordinating with medical teams and local authorities.” “We are in the process of ascertaining details, and a thorough investigation has been initiated in coordination with our partner and relevant authorities,” it said.
Ajit Naskar, one of the many workers from West Bengal who were working at the plant, told the media, “I have been working here for over a month. We were given the work of painting the premises. The incident happened around 2.30 pm when we were just starting our work post-lunch. Suddenly I heard a blast and there was smoke everywhere. We were at a height of 17 metres. I was in one corner so I hid inside a cupboard. Some people climbed down and ran off. Forty to fifty people were doing painting work at the time,” Naskar said.
Among the protesters sitting outside the power plant was Chandra Sen Patel. “My father, a housekeeper, died on the spot,” he told the media as he sat next to local Congress MLA Ram Kumar Yadav.
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Sakti SP Prafull Thakur said several workers have been rescued. “We asked the authorities to turn off the boiler and after it cooled down, we started the rescue operations. Everyone has been rescued.”
Most of the injured people have been admitted to different hospitals in neighbouring Raigarh district; a few have been shifted to a private hospital in Bilaspur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the boiler blast and, according to the PMO, announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed the incident “extremely distressing and heart-wrenching”. “The demise and injury of the workers is profoundly agonising. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families. I pray to God to grant a place at His divine feet to the departed souls and provide the families with the strength to bear this unbearable sorrow,” he posted on X.
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“The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased workers and Rs 50 thousand to the injured, so that they can receive immediate relief and support… Instructions have been issued to ensure proper and free treatment for all the injured. I pray for their swift recovery,” said CM Sai.
He said a thorough and impartial investigation of the incident will be ensured. “Whosoever is found guilty in this matter will face the strictest possible action,” said the CM.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
