Ahmedabad Times

“13 folks have died, we try to determine them. One other 20 are injured and admitted to totally different hospitals,” mentioned an industrial officer.

In a press release, Vedanta Restricted Chhattisgarh Thermal Energy Plant mentioned, “We remorse to tell you that an incident has occurred on the Unit 1 boiler of our plant in Singhitarai within the afternoon of 14 April 2026, involving personnel of our enterprise companion, NGSL.”

“Our quick precedence is to make sure the very best medical help and remedy for all these affected. We’re extending full help to the injured and are intently coordinating with medical groups and native authorities.” “We’re within the technique of ascertaining particulars, and a radical investigation has been initiated in coordination with our companion and related authorities,” it mentioned.

Ajit Naskar, one of many many employees from West Bengal who had been working on the plant, advised the media, “I’ve been working right here for over a month. We got the work of portray the premises. The incident occurred round 2.30 pm once we had been simply beginning our work post-lunch. Immediately I heard a blast and there was smoke in every single place. We had been at a top of 17 metres. I used to be in a single nook so I hid inside a cabinet. Some folks climbed down and ran off. Forty to fifty folks had been doing portray work on the time,” Naskar mentioned.

Among the many protesters sitting exterior the ability plant was Chandra Sen Patel. “My father, a housekeeper, died on the spot,” he advised the media as he sat subsequent to native Congress MLA Ram Kumar Yadav.

Sakti SP Prafull Thakur mentioned a number of employees have been rescued. “We requested the authorities to show off the boiler and after it cooled down, we began the rescue operations. Everybody has been rescued.”

A lot of the injured folks have been admitted to totally different hospitals in neighbouring Raigarh district; a couple of have been shifted to a non-public hospital in Bilaspur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the boiler blast and, in line with the PMO, introduced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the subsequent of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed the incident “extraordinarily distressing and heart-wrenching”. “The demise and harm of the employees is profoundly agonising. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved households. I pray to God to grant a spot at His divine toes to the departed souls and supply the households with the power to bear this insufferable sorrow,” he posted on X.

“The state authorities will present monetary help of Rs 5 lakh to the households of the deceased employees and Rs 50 thousand to the injured, in order that they’ll obtain quick aid and help… Directions have been issued to make sure correct and free remedy for all of the injured. I pray for his or her swift restoration,” mentioned CM Sai.

He mentioned a radical and neutral investigation of the incident can be ensured. “Whosoever is discovered responsible on this matter will face the strictest potential motion,” mentioned the CM.