Death Toll Rises to 14 in Blast at Vedanta Ltd Power Plant in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi | April 15, 2026: The death toll in the devastating blast at a power plant operated by Vedanta Ltd in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district has risen to 14, after another injured worker succumbed to injuries, police confirmed on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the plant located in Singhitarai village, when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine ruptured. The powerful blast caused severe burn injuries to several workers present at the site.

According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while others were rushed to nearby medical facilities. “One more worker died during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, taking the total death toll to 14,” said Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur.

Out of the 20 workers injured in the incident, five have been referred to hospitals in Raipur for advanced treatment, while the remaining 15 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Raigarh district.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He has also ordered a high-level inquiry by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division, assuring strict action against those found responsible.

In addition, the district administration has initiated a magisterial probe, while the company has launched an internal investigation into the incident. The Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured workers, stressing zero tolerance for negligence in their care.

Meanwhile, the opposition Indian National Congress has demanded the registration of an FIR against the plant management and called for a judicial inquiry. Party leader Sushil Anand Shukla alleged negligence on the part of the management and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible.

The power plant is part of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal project in Singhitarai, originally initiated by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd in 2009. The project remained stalled between 2016 and 2022 before being acquired by Vedanta. One 600 MW unit became operational in August last year, while construction of the second unit is ongoing.

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