Pioneer in short
13 dead, 21 injured in power plant blast
At least 13 workers were killed and 21 others injured after a boiler tube exploded at a Vedanta Ltd power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district on Tuesday, police said. Officials said the blast occurred in the afternoon at Singhitarai village, though the exact cause is yet to be determined. According to the Sakti Superintendent of Police, four workers died on the spot while seven others succumbed to injuries in hospitals. The injured are being treated in facilities in neighbouring Raigarh district. Soon after the explosion, local administration and police teams launched rescue operations. Authorities said the area around the boiler remains extremely hot, forcing evacuation of workers from nearby sections while efforts continue to ensure no one is trapped. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the incident as “extremely tragic” and assured a probe, adding that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. The plant management said the accident occurred at a boiler unit operated by its sub-contractor NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Ltd) and that its priority is medical care for the injured, in coordination with authorities. A detailed investigation has been initiated.
India-China border tensions flare up
India on Sunday strongly rejected China’s attempts to rename places in Indian territory, calling them “fictitious” and asserting that such moves cannot alter “undeniable reality” or affect bilateral normalisation efforts. The Ministry of External Affairs said India “categorically rejects” Beijing’s repeated attempts to assign new names to locations that are part of Indian territory. The response came after China defended its decision to standardise names in areas it calls “Zangnan,” referring to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of southern Tibet. China reiterated that it does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh and said its actions fall within sovereign rights. Tensions have also risen following China’s creation of new administrative counties in Xinjiang, including regions near Aksai Chin and close to the Line of Actual Control.
Delimitation row brews in south
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday intensified opposition to the proposed delimitation exercise, warning that southern States would face political and social “injustice” if representation is altered without wider consultation. Stalin alleged that the Centre was pursuing the process unilaterally and in secrecy ahead of a special Parliament session, claiming it could disproportionately increase northern States’ political power. He warned of “massive agitation” and Statewide protests if Tamil Nadu’s interests were harmed, saying the DMK would not allow any move that weakened the State’s representation. He also described the exercise as a “direct assault on federalism,” urging transparency in the proposed constitutional changes.
