Seven lives were lost in a horrific explosion at a steel manufacturing unit in Chhattisgarh’s Bakulahi village, Baloda Bazar, on January 22. Routine cleaning around the DSC coal furnace at Real Spot Steel Plant turned fatal when a sudden detonation hurled burning coal onto unsuspecting workers.
The blast’s intensity caused immediate fatalities for five men, their bodies ravaged by heat and debris. Rescuers battled through smoke and flames to evacuate the injured, two of whom later died from severe burns. Hospitals report the survivors’ conditions as precarious, requiring intensive care.
Police presence was immediate, with the Bhatapara Rural team cordoning off the area for evidence collection. Initial assessments suggest violations of standard operating procedures, but plant management has offered no comment, leaving a vacuum filled by speculation and sorrow.
Community leaders and families vent frustration at the silence from authorities and owners alike. Stepping into the fray, former CM Bhupesh Baghel used X to condemn the ‘ghastly mishap,’ demanding high-level scrutiny, victim compensation, proper healthcare, and punitive measures.
No announcements on ex-gratia from the state government have surfaced yet. This catastrophe serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by industrial workers, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety compliance in Chhattisgarh’s factories. Will this prompt meaningful change, or fade into bureaucratic footnotes? The coming days will tell.