Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal named in FIR after plant blast kills 20 in Chhattisgarh

Police in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district recently registered an FIR naming Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and other officials in connection with the devastating explosion at the company’s power plant that claimed 20 lives and left 15 others injured.

The blast, which occurred on Tuesday at Vedanta’s Singhitarai power plant, has triggered outrage and demands for accountability, with preliminary findings pointing to serious lapses in safety standards and machinery maintenance.

According to a statement issued by Sakti district police, the explosion took place in Boiler-01 after an excessive build-up of fuel inside the furnace created extreme pressure. Investigators said the pressure displaced the lower pipe of the boiler from its designated position, causing the deadly blast.

Police added that findings from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti also confirmed that fuel accumulation and the resulting pressure surge were the primary causes of the accident.

During the investigation, officials found that Vedanta and NGSL had allegedly failed to properly follow required standards for machinery maintenance and plant operations. Authorities said negligence in equipment upkeep and operational lapses led to sudden fluctuations in boiler pressure, ultimately causing the disaster.

Based on the evidence collected so far, a case has been registered at Dabhra police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 106(1) (death due to negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), and 3(5) (common intention).

Apart from Agarwal, those named in the FIR include company manager Devendra Patel and other officers and employees considered prima facie responsible.

Sakti Superintendent of Police Praful Thakur said further reports were awaited from the Industry Department, FSL, and technical experts. “Based on these reports, more sections may be added,” he said.

The explosion took place at around 2.30 pm when many workers were on their lunch break. A senior district official said a pipeline burst released superheated steam at nearly 600 degrees Celsius, engulfing workers who were eating nearby. Others passing through open areas were also caught in the blast and injured.

The scale of the tragedy has shaken the region, with grieving families mourning loved ones who had gone to work expecting to return home safely.

State minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan, after visiting the site on Thursday, said both the state and central governments had launched inquiries.

“A technical analysis will be carried out, responsibility will be fixed, and stringent action will be taken. This is a very big accident, and those responsible will not be spared,” he said.

He announced ₹42 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and ₹17 lakh for the injured. He also said pension support and employment opportunities would be provided to the families of the deceased.

Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno confirmed that a magisterial inquiry had been ordered and said the best possible treatment would be ensured for those undergoing treatment.

On April 15, Vedanta separately announced ₹35 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and ₹15 lakh for those injured.