Key Points:
- Seven workers died in a furnace explosion at Real Ispat plant in Bakulahi, Baloda Bazar district
- Incident occurred Thursday morning during routine cleaning work near the DSC coal furnace
- Multiple workers suffered severe burn injuries in the blast and subsequent fire
- Police from Nipania outpost and Bhatapara rural station responded immediately
- Investigation launched to determine cause of the industrial accident
A catastrophic industrial accident at the Real Ispat plant in the Bakulahi area claimed the lives of seven laborers on Thursday morning, sending shockwaves through the industrial belt of Baloda Bazar district. The devastating explosion occurred around 10:30 AM at the plant’s DSC coal furnace, where workers were conducting routine cleaning operations.
Eyewitness accounts describe a massive blast that erupted without warning, engulfing the workers in intense flames and molten debris. The seven victims, all contract laborers employed by a third-party maintenance contractor, were positioned directly adjacent to the furnace when the explosion occurred. Preliminary reports suggest the workers were removing slag and performing maintenance on the furnace interior, a hazardous task that requires proximity to extreme temperatures.
“The explosion was so powerful that it shook the entire plant premises,” said a senior police official from Bhatapara rural police station. “Workers in adjacent sections reported hearing a deafening sound followed by screams and seeing thick black smoke billowing from the furnace area.”
Emergency response teams faced intense heat and hazardous conditions as they attempted rescue operations. Several other workers sustained critical burn injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. The exact number of injured personnel remains unconfirmed as authorities continue to compile the full casualty list.
Industrial safety experts note that DSC (Direct Reduced Iron) coal furnaces operate at extremely high temperatures and require strict safety protocols during maintenance operations. The incident raises serious questions about safety measures at the facility, which employs approximately 250 workers in its steel production operations.
Senior officials from the district administration, including the collector and superintendent of police, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue and relief operations. The district magistrate has ordered a comprehensive safety audit of all industrial units in the Baloda Bazar industrial area, one of Chhattisgarh’s major steel and sponge iron production hubs.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Factories Act. The investigation will examine whether standard operating procedures were followed, if adequate safety equipment was provided to workers, and whether the plant’s safety certifications were current. Forensic teams are analyzing the furnace remains to determine the exact cause of the explosion, with preliminary theories focusing on a possible gas buildup or structural failure in the furnace lining.
The victims’ families have been notified, and compensation procedures are being initiated under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Labor union representatives have demanded an independent inquiry and called for stricter enforcement of industrial safety regulations across the region’s steel plants.
This incident marks the second major industrial accident in Chhattisgarh within six months, reigniting debates about worker safety standards in the state’s rapidly expanding industrial sector. Environmental and labor activists point to inadequate inspections and lenient enforcement as contributing factors to such tragedies.
