17 persons died in the fire in Bawana industrial area

[Hindustani78]

Inconsolable: Relatives and locals gather at the house of a victim at Metro Vihar near Bawana in Delhi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

New Delhi, January 21, 2018 22:01 IST
Updated: January 21, 2018 22:04 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...hi-arrested/article22486425.ece?homepage=true




17 persons died in the fire in Bawana industrial area

The Delhi police on Sunday arrested Manoj Jain, owner of an unauthorised fireworks factory after 17 persons — 10 women and seven men — were killed on Saturday in a massive fire in the manufacturing unit in Delhi's Bawana industrial area.

The Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik also transferred the case from the Rohini district police to the crime branch.

According to the police, the factory manufactured “cold firecrackers” used in stage shows and Holi celebrations. Wrappers printed with ‘Holi ke Dhamake’ were found in the factory, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajneesh Gupta.

“Of 17 bodies, 14 have been handed over to their family members after the post-mortem; three bodies remain unidentified. We are conducting a thorough investigation to trace the family members of unidentified victims. We have also set up a desk at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar (BSA) Hospital to assist relatives of the deceased,” Mr. Gupta said.

Factory owner Manoj Jain, 49, was arrested from his house in Tri Nagar late on Saturday and booked under sections 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 ( Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC and under the Explosives Act.. Jain had rented the factory from January 1, the DCP said.

“He was produced before the duty magistrate today who sent him to judicial custody. The police will request for production and police custody tomorrow before the regular magistrate,” the police statement said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence, even if it is a government official,” he said. Mr Jain accompanied Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who met families of the fire victims at the BSA hospital.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken visited the site of fire in Bawana on Sunday and demanded a judicial probe. Speaking to reportes, he said the incident exposed the “shortcomings” of the Delhi government’s various departments, apart from the “incompetence” of the civic body concerned in granting licences to such units.

The Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU) called for an independent and time-bound inquiry into the incident, covering not only the causes of the fire and the safety measures in the unit, but also the role of the labour department and its officials.

(With inputs from PTI)

 

[Jugger]

RIP

 

[Shiji]

No one should die a death of fire!

 

[BHarwana]

Rip

 

[NeonNinja]

RIP

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...in-vadodara/story-nTf4lwJLy5sUGKZiBI2hnN.html

At least four workers were killed and nine others injured on Sunday in a blast at a chemical plant located on the outskirts of Vadodara, a senior official said.

The blast at a chemical plant of the GSP Crop Science Pvt Ltd led to a huge fire in the premises, a police official said.

The blast occurred around 5.30 am in the filter plant of the company, located in the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) area at Nandesari near Vadodara.

“Four of the firm’s employees were killed in the mishap,” Vadodara district collector P Bharthi said.

The injured persons were admitted to different hospitals, she said, adding that two of the injured were reported to be serious.

“We have ordered an inquiry into the mishap,” she said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

The fire fighters took around two hours to douse the blaze, a police official said.

The machinery and equipment in two plants of the company were damaged in the incident. The firm’s units located in the surrounding areas were asked to shut down, a fire brigade official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

NEW DELHI, January 22, 2018 01:10 IST
Updated: January 22, 2018 08:30 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/we-were-never-told-about-explosives-used/article22487313.ece


A five-month pregnant woman who joined the factory just four days ago and two cousins are among the 17 people killed in the Bawana tragedy

A five-month pregnant woman and two members of one family are among the 17 people killed in the Bawana fire tragedy on Saturday.

Roop Prakash Singh and Sunita — the only survivors — claimed the factory owner or the supervisor never told them about explosives being used in the factory.

“We were never briefed about the nature of the substance [powder] used to fill the packets. I rushed downstairs after hearing screams but thick smoke had covered the entire floor and it was coming towards the first floor. I saw a man jump from the second floor to save himself, I followed him and jumped. When I gained conscious, I found myself in the hospital,” said Ms. Sunita.

Five-month pregnant Soni had joined the factory just four days ago on a salary of ₹5,000 per month to help share family responsibilities with help her husband, who works as a labourer in another factory in same area. Excited about the birth of Soni’s first child, the family had made many plans to welcome the baby. However, their happiness was short-lived.

‘Grandmother’ griefs

“Eighteen lives, including that of my unborn grandchild, were lost in the incident. We were looking forward to the birth of Soni’s child but everything is over now. Her face was unrecognisable. We identified her body with the help of her kurta and bangles,” said Soni’s mother, who was inconsolable while waiting outside the mortuary at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital.

NEW DELHI: 21/01/2018: Lt Governor Anil Baijal meeting with relatives of Bawana fire seen at Ambedkar Hospital Rohini, 17 people died in a massive blaze that broke out at a fire-crackers factory at Bawana, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Soni’s brother Babu Ram said her husband was away in his village in Sitapur and is on his way back after learning about the tragedy.

‘I will never see him again’

The family of 22-year-old Suraj Singh, who was one among the seven men killed in the blaze, had come from Unnao to take his body home.

Suraj’s mother Rajeshwari said she had not seen her son for almost two years since he had moved to Delhi in search of employment.

“I will never see him again,” she sobbed.

22DEL_BAWANA | Photo Credit: 22DEL_BAWANA

Suraj’s 19-year-old cousin Rohit, the son of Rajeshwari’s elder sister, was also killed in the fire.

“I realised my three brothers — Rohit, Sanjit Singh and Suraj — were working in the basement. I decided to alert them. As soon as I reached the ground floor, I saw the fire spread swiftly. Instead of alerting my brothers, I ran upstairs to save myself,” said Suraj and Rohit’s cousin Roop Prakash Singh.

Just like the other survivor, Mr. Roop Singh managed to escape the blaze by jumping from the second floor of the building.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/blast-in-ioc-refinery-one-killed/532578.html
Tribune News Service
Panipat, January 22

An employee was killed while four others, including a deputy manager, were injured in a blast in the naphtha cracker plant (NCP) on the premises of the Indian Oil Corporation Refinery and Petro Chemical Complex at Baoli village in the district today.

The deceased has been identified as Mohan Lal (45), a resident of Bal Jatan village in the district. The injured have been identified as Banuji Sipna (33), deputy manager; Ajay Tiwari (42); Gyan Ranjan Dutta (35) and Sanjeev (30), junior engineer assistant (JEA).

All injured were admitted to a private hospital in the city. The condition of Banuji Sipna and Sanjeev was stated to be critical. Banuji has been referred to the Apollo Hospital in Delhi. Besides, another employee Praveen was said to be missing after the incident. Enraged at Mohan’s death in the blast at the refinery, scores of villagers gathered at the gate No. 1 of the IOCL refinery and protested against its management. They also staged a dharna there.

According to refinery sources, the employees were engaged in maintenance of a valve in the Swing unit and gas started leaking, causing a high volume blast at 12.50 pm. A major fire broke out in the unit. A team of firefighters of the refinery reached the unit and took out five badly injured persons, including Mohan who died.

The sources said that the blast occurred due to a compressor blast in the catalyst plant of the NCP and it blew off the roof of the plant. Propylene gas is used in the plant, which is highly inflammable, they added.

“The plant has been sealed and CISF personnel have been deputed there,” added the sources. Meanwhile, DC Verma, Corporate Communication Manager, or any other official did not respond to media queries.

Not first incident, say union members

Members of the Indian Oil Panipat Refinery Employees Union led by its president Sampooran Singh reached the hospital to enquire after the health of the injured. They said it was not the first incident in the refinery. Safety in the plant was a major issue. Earlier, two contractual employees Anil and Jaspreet died while a production engineer and a contractual labour sustained burn injuries due to leakage in a pipe of the delayed cooker unit on November 17.

Villagers stage dharna at refinery gate Panipat: As the news of Mohan Lal’s death reached his native village Bal Jatan, scores of villagers gathered at gate number-1 of the refinery plant and started protesting. They alleged that the refinery authorities were not maintaining a proper security system in the plant and due to their laxity, accidents were occurring. This was the third accident in the IOCL in the last four months. They demanded a job and compensation for the deceased’s family. Inspector Sandeep, SHO of Madlauda police station, reached the refinery and tried to pacify the protesters who did not budge. TNS

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/2-industrial-units-gutted-in-nalagarh/532541.html
Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, January 22

Two transformer manufacturing units at Kripalpur village in the Nalagarh industrial area were destroyed in a massive fire which erupted in Jay Bee Industries and its adjoining unit Eco Power around 9 pm yesterday.

The loss of more than Rs 10 crore has been reported though being a Sunday, no manufacturing was underway and there was no loss of life. Security guards, who noticed the fire, informed the fire brigade staff at Nalagarh. It took nearly 7 hours for firemen to control the fire though another 5 hours were spent dousing it completely. Though the exact cause of the fire will be ascertained only after an inquiry, preliminary reports indicate short circuit as the probable cause. The power supply was disconnected around 9:30 pm by the staff of the Electricity Department.

The fire, which started from the main shed of Jay bee Industries, soon spread and the presence of two transformer oil tanks of nearly 40,000-litre capacity gave the firemen tough time, informed Fire Officer Hitender Kanwar. The high rising flames soon spread towards the Eco Power unit adjoining Jay Bee Industries and the presence of two more tanks of transformer oil further intensified the blaze.

Black plume of smoke was seen which created a scare in the nearby units. A house lying in the vicinity was vacated as precaution. Eight fire tenders were pressed into service from Nalagarh, Baddi, Parwanoo, Ropar Thermal Plant as well as other industrial units like Vardhman Textiles, HUL and JB Conductors to control it. Eco Power lacked the requisite fire fighting certification.

Though Jay Bee Industries did have a valid fire-fighting authorisation, being a holiday, there was no employee available to operate the system. By the time the security guards raised the alarm, fire became uncontrollable. With smoke continuing to rise from the two units, the fire men were on the job till this evening. Both units, which were running from tinned sheds, were gutted. A team of forensic science experts also visited the site to ascertain the cause of this mishap.

Short-circuit the likely reason

• The fire, which started from the main shed of Jay bee Industries, soon spread and the presence of two transformer oil tanks gave the firemen a tough time
• The high-rising flames soon spread to another unit and the presence of two more tanks of transformer oil further intensified the blaze
• Preliminary reports indicate short circuit as the probable cause

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...no-casualty/article22533492.ece?homepage=true

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
A fire broke out in a commercial complex in suburban Goregaon on Saturday morning, civic officials said.

The blaze erupted at Cama Estate around 8 a.m., an official of the Disaster Control Cell of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and the firefighting operation was launched with the help of seven water tankers and eight fire engines, he said.

No casualty has been reported in the incident so far, the official said adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

 

[Crystal-Clear]

rip . poor souls