Notice Issued to Real Ispat & Energy After Fatal Industrial Accident in Bhatapara Factory

Law Notify : The district administration has issued a notice to the management of M/s Real Ispat & Energy Private Limited following a joint investigation into a major industrial accident that occurred at the company’s factory premises in village Bakulahi under Bhatapara tehsil on January 22, 2026. The notice has been issued on the basis of the joint inquiry report constituted under the directions of Collector Deepak Soni, and the factory management has been asked to submit its reply within one week.

According to the order issued by the Assistant Director, Industrial Health and Safety, several serious violations were found during the investigation conducted after the fatal accident. The factory management was found to be in non-compliance with provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 and the Chhattisgarh Factories Rules, 1962.

The inquiry revealed that kiln number 01 was operated without shutdown, forcing workers and employees to work in hazardous conditions and putting their lives at risk. Adequate safety measures and safe work practices were not adopted at the workplace. During the operation of removing accumulated hot ash from the dust settling chamber of kiln number 01 and discharging it into the wet scraper, proper work permits were not issued. Newly appointed workers were deployed inside the highly dangerous dust settling chamber without valid work authorization, reflecting gross negligence on the part of the factory management.

It was further found that the factory management had not obtained permission from the District Trade and Industry Centre for commercial production, which is in violation of the state industrial policy. Registers related to wages and other facilities under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 were also not made available to workers. Despite employing more than 100 workers through two contractors, the management failed to obtain the mandatory license under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. Additionally, interstate migrant workers were engaged without obtaining the required license under the Interstate Migrant Workmen Act, 1979, amounting to further legal violations.

Regarding compensation, the factory management has paid ₹20 lakh each to the families of five deceased workers and ₹5 lakh each to the families of six injured workers. The injured workers are currently undergoing treatment in Bilaspur.

It may be noted that on January 22, 2026, at around 9:40 am, a sudden explosion and shower of hot ash occurred on the second floor of the dust settling chamber of kiln number 01 while work was in progress. The incident resulted in the death of six workers on the spot, while five others sustained serious injuries. Following the preliminary investigation, the operation of kiln number 01 and all related maintenance activities have been prohibited under Section 40(2) of the Factories Act, 1948.