Vedanta Chair Named in FIR After Chhattisgarh Plant Blast Kills 20
Vedanta Chair Named in FIR After Chhattisgarh Plant Blast Kills 20
A blast at Vedanta's Singhitarai power plant in Chhattisgarh killed 20 people and injured 16 as an FIR names Vedanta chairman Anil Agrawal for negligence.
On April 14, a high‑pressure steam explosion ripped through Vedanta’s power plant in Singhitarai village, Sakti district, Chhattisgarh, killing 20 people and injuring 16. Four workers died on the spot, while 14 later succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. The blast occurred when a tube carrying steam from the boiler to the turbine malfunctioned, triggering a deadly release of energy that disrupted operations at the facility.
An FIR was registered on April 16 naming Vedanta group chairman Anil Agrawal and others, under sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, according to local officials. The move signals investigators’ focus on potential negligence linked to plant safety and maintenance practices as the cause of the disaster.
Authorities say the incident is being treated as a major industrial accident, with safety protocols at the plant coming under close scrutiny. Families of the victims and local residents have urged transparency as investigators assess what went wrong and whether proper safeguards were in place. The case underscores ongoing concerns about industrial safety at large manufacturing facilities across the region.
