More than six workers were injured in a major industrial accident after a powerful explosion ripped through a chemical factory in the Modern Industrial Estate (MIE) Part-B area of Bahadurgarh on Friday.
Though the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained, officials suspect 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 manufacturing of chemical-based glue products. Four workers who sustained severe burn injuries were initially rushed to the Civil Hospital in Bahadurgarh and later referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak due to their critical condition. Several more workers are feared trapped under the debris, while rescue operations are still under way.
The incident occurred in the afternoon when a sudden explosion shook the industrial area. The impact of the blast was so intense that it triggered panic among workers in nearby factories and was heard from a considerable distance. Soon after the explosion, a massive fire broke out inside the premises and the building’s roof came crashing down, trapping workers under the rubble.
According to initial reports, more than 10 workers were inside the factory at the time of the incident, while several others were working outside the premises. Rescue teams managed to pull out four to five injured persons from the debris and shifted them to the Civil Hospital.
Six fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, while police and district administration teams cordoned off the area and launched relief and rescue operations.
Mayank Mishra, along with other senior officials, rushed to the spot to monitor the situation. He said the exact number of injured people was yet to be confirmed.
“A team of the State Disaster Relief Force has joined the rescue operation. As per eyewitness accounts, a boiler explosion appears to be the reason behind this tragic incident,” the DCP said.
