An FIR has been filed against Anil Agarwal, who serves as the chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, and company manager Devendra Patel, among other officials. This action stems from the boiler explosion at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, which tragically claimed the lives of 20 workers, as confirmed by the police.
Sakti Superintendent of Police, Prafull Thakur, mentioned that the FIR was registered at the Dabhra police station under relevant sections, including causing death by negligence, negligent conduct regarding machinery, and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FIR includes the names of eight to ten individuals, including Anil Agarwal, with the possibility of adding more names as the investigation progresses.
The fatal incident occurred on April 14 at the plant situated in Singhitarai village, where a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine ruptured, causing severe burn injuries to numerous workers. The explosion resulted in the loss of 20 lives and left 16 individuals wounded.
Initial technical investigations revealed that the explosion was triggered by the accumulation of excessive fuel inside the boiler furnace, leading to a surge in pressure. A police statement highlighted that the high pressure from the fuel inside the furnace caused a boiler blast as it pushed a lower pipe out of its designated position, resulting in the tragic accident.
Reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti supported the findings that the fuel accumulation and subsequent pressure build-up were the key factors behind the explosion. Further probing exposed lapses in maintenance and operational standards by Vedanta and its contractor, leading to sudden pressure fluctuations in the boiler, ultimately causing the accident.
Authorities have formed a technical team to delve into the blast’s root cause, awaiting various reports, including post-mortem examinations, forensic science lab findings, and industrial health and safety department assessments. Additional sections in the investigation might be included based on these forthcoming reports.
In response to the incident, the Congress party has urged for the registration of an FIR against the plant management and called for a thorough judicial inquiry into the tragic blast.