A tragic industrial accident at a private steel-making plant in Chhattisgarh’s Baloda Bazar district has killed seven workers and is said to have left other individuals fighting for their lives. The disaster was observed today at the Real Ispat Steel Plant in the Bakulahi area and shook the local industrial belt.
The Moment of the Explosion
The tragedy occurred on a regular maintenance shift. Eyewitnesses and initial accounts claimed that a group of workers were cleaning around a large coal furnace. At the last minute the furnace collapsed, giving a high power blast. The blast unleashed a deadly deluge of extreme heat, compressed steam and molten coal dust.
VIDEO | Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh: Six workers feared dead and over 10 injured in a blast reported at a steel factory. More details awaited.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 22, 2026
(Source: Third Party)#Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/P7fqqnW6LC
As the workers were near the furnace for cleaning and cleaning purposes, they had no time out of the inferno. Grim Scenes at the Site. According to local sources, a gut-wrenching blast scene at the plant. The heat was so intense that some workers were said to have been instantly charred to death. The victims were trapped in a direct line of the scorched coal and flames and suffered fatal thermal injuries.
Seven deaths have been confirmed by local rescue teams, but the numbers of victims are fluid. Survivors were taken to nearby hospitals with third-degree burns by emergency responders. Many of the injured are also said to be in critical condition, with the number of deaths likely to increase as medical teams are called to stabilize them.
Administrative Silence and Public Outcry
The Real Ispat Steel Plant is being treated with silence ever since tragedy struck. As of Thursday evening, the company's official explanation of the technical reason for the failure of its furnace was not released, nor the amount to be paid to the grieving families. The plant administration’s failure to make an instant return to the plant administration at once has angered local labor unions and some families of the dead who lined up outside the gates to demand further accountability and better security standards.
Police Investigation and Safety Audit
A top-ranking police team arrived at the site shortly after the explosion was discovered. The site has been sealed off as forensic experts and industrial safety inspectors start their investigation. District officials say the inquiry will be centered on two main points:
Safety protocols
Whether the hazard protection gear and fire suppression systems that were required were used and functioning during the cleaning.
Maintenance Records
Whether the coal furnace had undergone the required pressure tests and structural audits recently. The authorities are promising if negligence is discovered by the plant operators, stringent legal intervention under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) shall be taken.
