The death toll from a boiler explosion at a power plant in central India has climbed to 19, with 17 others injured, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The blast took place on Tuesday at a facility run by Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of the London-listed Vedanta Resources, located in Sakti district of Chhattisgarh state.
District police chief Praful Thakur stated that the injured are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals. The explosion is believed to have been triggered by a pipeline rupture, which released superheated steam onto workers who were having lunch at the time, reports from local media.
In a significant development, Anil Agarwal, the Indian-born billionaire chairman of Vedanta Resources, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic incident. He announced that a thorough, high-level investigation has been launched to uncover the causes of the accident, emphasizing that every effort will be made to resolve the matter.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh state authorities have initiated their own inquiry. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai pledged to ensure the strictest possible action against anyone found responsible for the disaster.
Industrial accidents remain a frequent issue in India, often attributed to inadequate safety measures and lax enforcement of regulations. Notably, a fire at a fireworks factory in western India last month resulted in 17 fatalities, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in the country’s industrial sector.
