Another worker, Manish Kumar, hailing from Jharkhand, who was injured in the boiler explosion at the Vedanta power plant in Singhitarai village of Sakti district, Chhattisgarh, passed away at Raigarh Medical College on Sunday. This unfortunate incident has now claimed a total of 24 lives since it occurred on April 14.
Following the blast, 36 laborers sustained severe burn injuries, with three individuals still in critical condition as per sources. Authorities have confirmed that all injured workers are receiving the best available medical care, and support is being provided to the families of the deceased.
A dozen injured laborers are currently undergoing treatment, with the explosion being traced back to a tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine. Initial investigations by the Chief Boiler Inspector suggest potential lapses, such as excessive fuel accumulation leading to pressure escalation.
The administration, along with central agencies, has escalated the probe into the incident. An eight-member team from the Central Industrial Security Force visited the plant on April 18 to review production logbooks from the preceding two weeks and assess the frequency of technical shutdowns.
Reports indicate that the plant has encountered technical issues multiple times over the past year, including a recent brief shutdown just days before the tragic accident. The investigative team has gathered evidence, interviewed management, employees, and officials, with the exact causes awaiting revelation in the final report.
This incident has reignited concerns regarding industrial safety and maintenance practices in the region, prompting various agencies to collaborate in determining the exact chain of events and any potential oversights contributing to the tragedy. The ongoing investigation aims to propose enhanced preventive measures to avert similar accidents in the future.
