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Did You Know? The Indian Boilers Act, 1923 Was Born Out of a Deadly Tragedy in West Bengal

Most of us know the Indian Boilers Act, 1923 as the backbone of boiler safety regulation in India – but very few know the tragic incident that forced its creation. In 1923, a catastrophic boiler explosion occurred at the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation’s plant at Alipore, West Bengal (then Calcutta). The massive explosion completely destroyed the boiler and caused multiple fatalities and serious injuries. The scale of the disaster shocked the British Indian government and exposed the complete absence of uniform safety standards for steam boilers across the country.Prior to this, boiler regulation was scattered and inconsistent across provinces. The Alipore disaster became the tipping point. Within months, the Indian Boilers Act, 1923 was enacted and came into force on 1st January 1924.

Key highlights of the Act that emerged from this tragedy:
  • Mandatory registration and periodic inspection of all boilers
  • Certification of boiler operators and competent persons
  • Uniform safety standards across British India
  • Appointment of Chief Inspectors and Inspectors of Boiers
That single explosion in a Calcutta power plant literally saved thousands of lives in the decades that followed by making boiler safety non-negotiable.Next time you see a Form-IV certification or a boiler inspection stamp, remember – it all traces back to a dark day in West Bengal that changed industrial safety forever.

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