11 workers killed, 22 injured as boiler explodes at Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh
Sakti (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): At least 11 workers were killed, while 22 others suffered injuries after a tube connected to a boiler exploded at a Vedanta Ltd power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district on Tuesday, police said.
According to preliminary information, the blast occurred in a boiler tube at the Vedanta power plant in Singhitarai village in the afternoon, Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur told PTI.
A cause was not immediately known.
"Eleven workers have died, and 22 have sustained injuries," he said.
Four of the workers were killed on the spot, while the seven others succumbed to injuries at hospitals, according to the SP.
The injured were undergoing treatment at hospitals in the neighbouring Raigarh district, he informed.
Soon after the powerful blast, local administration personnel and police teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations, the official said.
He said as the area around the boiler remains extremely hot, workers and other staff have been evacuated from the vicinity.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed the explosion as "extremely tragic" and said his government firmly stands with the families of the deceased.
A probe will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the blast and strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the tragedy, he told reporters in Raipur.
The plant management, in a statement, said, "An unfortunate incident occurred at one of the boiler units at our Singhitarai plant, involving personnel from our sub-contractor, NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Ltd), which operates and maintains the unit."
The management insisted its immediate priority is to ensure the best possible medical assistance and treatment to those affected, and added it is closely coordinating with medical teams and local authorities.
"We are in the process of ascertaining details, and a thorough investigation has been initiated in coordination with our partner and relevant authorities," it said.
Notably, a power plant boiler is an enclosed device that primarily converts water into steam by utilizing heat energy from fuel combustion. This steam is then used to drive turbines, which generate electricity.
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SC refuses to entertain plea seeking guidelines for display of Ashoka Chakra
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking a direction to the Centre and others to frame guidelines for the display of the Ashoka Chakra on the national flag.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi told the petitioner, who appeared in person, to do something constructive for society.
"There is no need to be so emotional about these things. Your idea is good. You have informed the authorities. Now it is for the authorities to see what they want to do," the CJI told the petitioner.
"You do some constructive work for society," the bench said.
The petitioner showed a picture of the Ashoka Chakra installed at a roundabout in Varanasi, but the bench refused to entertain the plea.
