Cong urges govt to set up burn unit following Vedanta blast

Raipur: The Congress in Chhattisgarh on Friday urged the chief minister to set up a dedicated burn treatment unit in the state following the Vedanta power plant accident in Sakti district that left over 21 labourers dead and several others injured. Calling the incident a result of alleged gross negligence, the Congress also sought a judicial probe, a statewide industrial safety audit, and strict legal action against those responsible.Congress president DeepakBaijand leader of opposition Charan Das Mahant said victims with over 70% burn injuries could have better survival chances if referred to advanced facilities in cities like Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Mumbai."Chhattisgarh needs its own burn unit," the leaders said at ajointpress conference at Rajiv Bhawan, the party's state headquarters, a day after visiting the accident site.They demanded a judicial probe under high court supervision and invocation of Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide, seeking at least 10-year punishment for those found responsible. Raising concerns over industrial safety and tribal rights, Congress leaders alleged gross negligence by the company and the state industry department, saying the tragedy could have been prevented with proper safety measures and inspections.Baij alleged workers were made to carry out hazardous tasks without shutdowns or safety gear, and called for a statewide industrial safety audit, citing nearly 300 deaths in industrial accidents over the past two and a half years. He also opposed the Uniform Civil Code, alleging it could weaken tribal protections and facilitate land acquisition in tribal areas, while criticising the linking of women's reservation to delimitation and demanding implementation based on current Lok Sabha strength after a fresh census.Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant criticised the FIR against Vedanta management as weak, alleging use of substandard machinery and scrap materials. He demanded a high court–monitored investigation, specialised treatment for the injured in advanced burn centres, and the establishment of a dedicated burn hospital in the state.