The Chhattisgarh Government has sealed kiln no. 1 at a steel plant in Balodabazar-Bhatapara after an explosion killed six workers on January 22, 2026. The blast happened at Real Ispat and Power Ltd's factory in Bakulahi village during maintenance. Workers were hit by hot ash at temperatures of 850 to 900°C. The deceased workers, all from Gotibandh village in Bihar, were named as Vinay Bhuiya (39), Badri Bhuiya (52), Sundar Bhuiya (49), Shravan Bhuiya (22), Jitendra Bhuiya (37), and Rajdev Bhuiya (22). Five others injured from Bihar and Jharkhand were admitted to the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences in Bilaspur. One was later moved to Raipur for treatment. A preliminary probe exposed serious safety lapses. "Workers were made to carry out high-risk operations without shutting down the kiln," the government said. The hydraulic slide gate of the dust-settling chamber was not closed, no proper work permits were issued, and mandatory safety gear like heat-resistant aprons, helmets, and safety shoes was missing. Training and supervision were also inadequate. Following orders from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the factory's kiln operations are banned under the Factories Act until safety compliance documents are submitted. The factory must continue paying wages during the ban. Real Ispat and Power Ltd announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for each deceased worker's family and Rs 5 lakh for each injured worker. Families will also receive financial benefits from the Employees' Compensation Fund and the Employees' State Insurance Corporation. A joint team from the Industrial Health and Safety Department, police, and other local officials is investigating the incident. The probe calls the kiln's manufacturing and maintenance activities an "imminent danger." The government vows strict action to prevent future tragedies.