Deputy Commissioner Varsha Khangwal has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Bahadurgarh factory blast that claimed the life of a worker and left six others injured.
Earlier, she had ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident, a joint report of which has also been submitted by officials of the Industries Department and the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).
“The magisterial inquiry will be headed by Bahadurgarh SDM Abhinav Siwach, who has been directed to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days, covering all aspects of the incident,” the DC told The Tribune.
Varsha further stated that the SDM had been asked to examine all aspects of the case, including fixing responsibility on the individuals concerned and the factory management, as well as determining the exact cause of the blast.
The incident occurred on May 22, when a powerful explosion ripped through a chemical factory located in Modern Industrial Estate, Part-B area of Bahadurgarh. Although the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained, officials suspect that a boiler explosion triggered the incident, leading to the collapse of a major portion of the factory’s two-storey building. The factory was engaged in the manufacture of chemical-based adhesive products.
The body of a 23-year-old worker, identified as Shailesh Kumar, was recovered from beneath the debris of the factory more than 24 hours after the blast when his family approached the police after he went missing following the accident.
Acting swiftly, the police deployed additional personnel to intensify the search and rescue operation.
Subsequently, the family members lodged a police complaint against the factory owner and management, alleging negligence and failure to adhere to workers’ safety norms, which, they claimed, led to Shailesh Kumar’s death. Following the complaint, the police registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Bahadurgarh Industries expressed grief over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the deceased worker.
