Police in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Anil Agarwal, the chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, alongside company manager Devendra Patel and several other officials. The legal action follows a catastrophic boiler explosion at the Vedanta power plant that resulted in the deaths of 20 workers.
Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur confirmed that the FIR was filed at Dabhra police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically citing sections 106 for causing death by negligence, 289 for negligent conduct regarding machinery, and 3(5) concerning common intention. Thakur noted that while eight to ten individuals, including Agarwal, are currently named, the scope of the investigation may expand to include others as more evidence comes to light.
The tragedy unfolded on April 14 at the Singhitarai village facility. The blast occurred when a steel tube, designed to transport high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine, ruptured. The force of the explosion and the escaping steam caused 20 fatalities and left a further 16 employees with severe burn injuries.
A preliminary technical inquiry has pointed towards a build-up of excessive fuel within the boiler furnace, which created an unmanageable increase in pressure. A report from the Chief Boiler Inspector detailed how this pressure eventually forced a lower pipe out of its housing, triggering the fatal accident. These findings were later corroborated by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti, which identified fuel accumulation as the primary catalyst.
Investigators have highlighted significant failures in maintaining operational standards. It appears that both Vedanta and its contractor, NTPC GE Power Services Limited (NGSL), neglected the necessary upkeep of the machinery. This lack of oversight led to the pressure fluctuations that ultimately caused the structural failure. Police have stated that, based on current technical findings, there is a prima facie case of criminal negligence.
To manage the complexities of the case, a special investigation team has been established, led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel and supported by forensic specialists and local police officials. While the FIR has been lodged, authorities are still awaiting several key documents, including final post-mortem results and comprehensive reports from the industrial health and safety department.
In the wake of the incident, the Congress party has been vocal in demanding accountability, calling for both the registration of criminal charges against the management and a full judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the blast.
Also read: C'garh boiler blast toll rises to 14; Cong seeks judicial inquiry
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