Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Cachar Police arrested five people after a deadly explosion at a rod manufacturing unit in Pangram. The blast killed four workers on Sunday morning. Rakesh Kumar Surana, the owner of KADE Global Infrastructure LLP, was among those taken into custody.
The explosion occurred around 11 am. Molten metal reportedly ignited. Some investigators suggest an LPG cylinder leak triggered the blast. The force of the explosion echoed through the surrounding area. It caused extensive damage to the facility.
Four men died instantly. They were identified as Appu Boraik, Kiron Munda, Shyamal Gaur, and Sagar Nath. Nath hailed from Agartala in Tripura. Emergency responders and fire crews arrived to pull injured workers from the rubble. Doctors at Silchar Medical College and Hospital declared the four victims dead on arrival.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered an expedited investigation. Police apprehended Surana in Guwahati on July 27 before transferring him to Udharbond Police Station. Four management staffers joined him in custody. Authorities booked them for alleged negligence regarding safety protocols.
MLA Rajdeep Goala and Cachar Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta met the victims' families. They distributed an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for each death. The government promised continued support.
Forensic experts are currently combing the site. A magisterial inquiry and a separate Labour Department probe are underway. Officials intend to determine if the firm violated safety norms. Local residents claim minor blasts occurred at the site previously but went unreported. Relatives of one victim alleged management tried to downplay the tragedy. Police vowed to investigate these claims. A spokesperson stated, "The investigation is underway and that stringent legal action will be taken against those found responsible for negligence or violations of industrial safety norms."
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