Nine workers were killed and 15 sustained injuries after a boiler exploded at a 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 Limited power plant in Singhitarai village in the afternoon, Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur told media reporters.
"Nine workers have died, and 15 have sustained injuries," he said, adding that three victims were killed on the spot while the others succumbed to injuries at hospitals.
The injured were undergoing treatment at hospitals in the neighbouring Raigarh district, he said.
Local administration and police teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations, the official said.
He said that as the area around the boiler remains extremely hot, workers and staff have been evacuated from the vicinity.
Rescue operations are still underway to check if more persons are trapped, he added.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed the incident "extremely tragic" and said the government stands with the families of the deceased.
A probe will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible, 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 Limited), which operates and maintains the unit."
The management said that its immediate priority is to ensure the best possible medical assistance and treatment to those affected, and that 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.