Vedanta Boiler Blast in Chhattisgarh: At Least 9–12 Workers Dead, 40 Injured — PM Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia

A major industrial tragedy struck Chhattisgarh on Tuesday afternoon, April 14, when a boiler tube exploded at the Vedanta Limited power plant in Singhitarai village, Sakti district. The blast, which occurred around 2 PM when roughly 40 to 50 workers were present, killed at least nine workers — with some reports placing the toll at 10 to 12 — and injured upwards of 40 others. Several workers remain trapped under debris as rescue operations continue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured, from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a thorough investigation and said whoever is found guilty "will not be spared."

The explosion triggered a stampede-like situation on the plant premises, with workers scrambling to escape. Eyewitnesses described thick smoke rising from the facility, followed by scenes of panic. Fire brigades, police, and district administration officials rushed to the site. Authorities ordered a boiler shutdown to allow the unit to cool before rescue teams could safely enter the most damaged sections.

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Vedanta issued a statement saying: "An unfortunate incident occurred at one of the boiler units at our Singhitarai plant on the afternoon of 14 April 2026, involving personnel from our sub-contractor, NGSL, which operates and maintains the unit." The company said it is "extending full support to the injured" and coordinating with medical teams, local authorities, and its business partner. An internal investigation has been initiated.

Chhattisgarh Industry and Commerce Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan said he was in touch with district officials and the Labour, Industry, Industrial Health and Safety departments. He called the deaths "extremely heartbreaking" and directed agencies to ensure proper care for the injured.

This is not the first time the Sakti region has drawn industrial safety scrutiny. The district hosts several heavy industries, and worker safety standards at subcontracted units are frequently flagged by labour rights groups as inadequate. The use of a sub-contractor — NGSL — to operate and maintain the boiler unit at a facility owned by a major listed company like Vedanta raises familiar questions about accountability in India's industrial safety framework. When subcontractors are involved, the chain of responsibility for safety inspections, maintenance logs, and equipment oversight often becomes blurred.

As of Wednesday morning, some workers were still reported trapped in the damaged section of the plant. The investigation into the precise cause of the boiler tube failure — whether it was maintenance failure, equipment age, or operational error — was still underway.