An FIR has been registered against Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group, and others after the boiler explosion at the company’s power plant in Sakti that claimed 20 lives.
The blast occurred on April 14 at the plant in Singhitarai village when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine burst, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries. The incident killed 20 people and injured 16 others.
Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur said that the case was lodged at Dabhra police station under under sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
"Eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, have been named in the FIR. If more persons are found responsible during the investigation, their names will be added," Thakur told PTI.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, with several reports awaited, including post-mortem findings and forensic analysis. A special team has been formed to probe the incident further.
What The Initial Probe Suggests
Preliminary findings suggest that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace caused a dangerous pressure build-up, leading to the blast.
“According to an initial report submitted by the Chief Boiler Inspector, the excessive fuel inside the furnace generated high pressure, causing a blast in the boiler. The pressure forced a lower pipe of the boiler out of its designated position, resulting in the severe accident,” a police statement on Thursday noted.
A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti also confirmed that the accumulation of fuel and the resulting excessive pressure were the primary causes of the explosion, the statement added.
Investigators have also pointed to lapses in maintenance and operations at the plant.
“Lapses in upkeep and negligent operation led to sudden fluctuations in boiler pressure, ultimately causing the accident. Based on the available evidence and technical findings, negligence has been established prima facie, following which an FIR was lodged,” the police said.
During the probe, it was found that Vedanta and its contractor NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Limited) did not properly follow maintenance and operational standards for machinery and equipment.
A special investigation team led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel has been set up, including police and forensic officials.
Following the incident, the Indian National Congress demanded an FIR against the plant management and called for a judicial inquiry into the tragedy.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have indicated that more names could be added to the FIR as further evidence emerges.
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