Superheated steam from ruptured tube engulfs workers during lunch break, prompting questions over safety standards at industrial sites.
VA powerful boiler explosion at a coal-fired power plant operated by Vedanta Limited in central India’s Chhattisgarh state has killed at least 19 workers and injured 17 others, officials said on Wednesday.
The blast occurred around 2:30pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the company’s Singhitarai thermal power plant in Sakti district, about 228km northeast of the state capital Raipur.
Police and district officials said a tube in the boiler of Unit 1 ruptured, releasing superheated steam estimated at around 600 degrees Celsius. Many of the victims were labourers eating lunch in an open area near the unit when the scalding steam rained down on them.
“After the pipeline burst, superheated steam fell on the people who were having their lunch. Some others who were walking in open spaces also got injured,” a senior district official told local media.
The death toll, initially reported as nine, rose steadily as some of the critically injured succumbed to severe burns and trauma. District Superintendent of Police Praful Thakur confirmed the latest figures to AFP and other outlets, adding that 17 people remain under treatment in hospitals in Sakti, Raigarh and Bilaspur.
Boiler Blast Hits Contract Workers as Vedanta Launches Probe:
Reports indicate that the majority of those affected were contract workers employed by a subcontractor, NGSL, responsible for operating and maintaining the unit. Many were migrant labourers who had joined the plant only weeks earlier seeking stable income.
Survivors described scenes of chaos as the blast triggered panic and a massive fire. Rescue teams worked under difficult conditions amid extreme heat and thick smoke to evacuate the injured.
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of London-listed Vedanta Resources, issued a brief statement describing the incident as “unfortunate” and confirming it involved subcontractor personnel. The company said operations at the affected unit have been suspended and that it has launched an internal inquiry.
Leaders Order Probe as Safety Concerns Rise After Chhattisgarh Tragedy:
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the tragedy and ordered a magisterial probe into the causes. He promised strict action against anyone found guilty of negligence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed condolences and announced ex-gratia payments: Rs 200,000 (about $2,400) to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
President Droupadi Murmu and other national leaders also expressed sorrow.
A separate investigation by the state labour department and factory inspectorate is under way to determine whether safety protocols, maintenance standards or operational procedures were violated.
The incident has renewed concerns over safety failures in India’s industrial sector, especially in power and mining where contract labour is common. In Chhattisgarh-a hub for coal-based industries-critics say rapid expansion and cost-cutting often put workers at risk.
Rights groups are urging stricter enforcement of safety laws and better protection for labourers. Meanwhile, Vedanta Limited has again come under scrutiny, as grieving families wait for updates on their loved ones.