Overview
- A mild explosion in Bunker-B of Unit 1 at NTPC’s Angul super thermal plant injured five contractual workers late on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
- All five were taken to the on-site NTPC hospital and two were later transferred to Bhubaneswar for advanced care, with one patient reported in critical condition and others stable.
- NTPC and local police have not yet determined the cause and have sent a high-level technical team to inspect the bunker, equipment, and coal handling procedures.
- Plant officials say generation at the 3,000 MW facility continued normally after the blast, and NTPC has committed to pay all medical expenses for the injured workers.
- Reports that about 50 workers were inside the bunker when the incident occurred and that the victims are contractual employees have prompted immediate questions about confined-space safety and contractor oversight that regulators or the probe may address next.