Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Jul 27: Five people, including the owner of a rod manufacturing factory, have been arrested in connection with the deadly explosion at an industrial unit in Assam's Cachar district that claimed the lives of four workers, officials said on Monday.
The arrests followed directions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who ordered swift action as police intensified their investigation into the accident at the company's Pangram manufacturing unit in the Udharband Assembly constituency.
Among those arrested is factory owner Rakesh Kumar Surana, while the other four accused are linked to the management and day-to-day operations of the unit. Police have registered a case and said further investigation is in progress.
A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has also inspected the factory to collect evidence and determine the exact sequence of events that triggered the explosion.
The blast occurred at around 11 a.m. on Sunday, when molten metal reportedly exploded inside the factory's processing section. The impact of the explosion was so powerful that it was heard across the surrounding area.
Four workers — Appu Boraik, Kiron Munda, Shyamal Gaur, and Sagar Nath, a resident of Agartala in Tripura — died in the incident. According to local residents, the force of the blast caused severe injuries to the victims. Doctors at Silchar Medical College and Hospital later confirmed their deaths, following which the bodies were sent for post-mortem examinations.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services personnel reached the site soon after the explosion and rescued several injured workers. While some were admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment, others sustained minor injuries and were discharged after receiving medical care.
The Assam government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the family of each deceased worker. Udharband MLA Rajdeep Goala, accompanied by Cachar Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta, handed over the financial assistance to the bereaved families and assured them of continued government support.
Earlier, Assam Minister Kaushik Rai announced that a magisterial inquiry, a police investigation, and a separate Labour Department probe had been ordered to establish the cause of the accident and determine whether mandatory industrial safety norms had been followed. The district administration has also sought details from the company regarding the safety measures implemented at the factory.
Meanwhile, local residents alleged that minor explosions had occurred at the plant on previous occasions but were never officially reported. Family members of one of the deceased workers further claimed that the factory management initially attempted to downplay the seriousness of Sunday's blast.
Police said both allegations would form part of the ongoing investigation. Officials added that stringent legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence or violations of industrial safety regulations.
The fatal incident has once again raised concerns over workplace safety standards and the enforcement of industrial regulations in Assam, with investigators now examining whether lapses in safety protocols contributed to the tragedy.