Ramgarh: Three engineers were killed and a worker suffered serious injuries after a blast followed by a fire at a sponge-iron factory in the Hehal area of Barkakana, Ramgarh district, late Friday night. The incident has also raised questions over alleged lapses in safety measures at the factory.
The blast occurred at the power plant of Maa Chhinnamastika Cement and Ispat Private Limited while production work was underway during the night shift. A loud explosion suddenly shook the plant, followed by a major fire. The workers present at the site ran for safety, creating panic inside the factory premises.
The three engineers suffered severe burn injuries and died in the incident. The deceased have been identified as 50-year-old Sanjeev Kumar Kesari, a shift in-charge from Ranchi; 25-year-old Vineet Mahto, a resident of Jageshwar Bihar in Bokaro; and 24-year-old Abhishek Pandey from Garhwa.
One worker, identified as Tarun Rajwar of Hazaribagh, was also seriously injured. He was rushed to The Hope Hospital on Ranchi Road, where he is undergoing treatment.
Fire brought under control after midnight
Factory officials and police reached the site after being alerted about the incident. Four to five fire tenders were called from Ramgarh to tackle the flames. After sustained efforts, the fire was brought under control.
The incident triggered tension in the area, with local residents gathering outside the factory gate from Saturday morning. Families and villagers were preparing to protest and block the factory entrance, demanding compensation and employment for the dependants of the workers who died.
Overheating raises safety concerns
The circumstances surrounding the blast have also led to allegations of negligence by the factory management. Anurag Tripathi, in-charge of the power plant unit, said overheating was believed to have played a role in the accident.
He claimed that the management had repeatedly been asked to install air-conditioning equipment in the area to maintain a safe temperature, but the issue had not been adequately addressed.
The incident has now put the factory’s safety arrangements under scrutiny. A detailed investigation will be required to establish the exact cause of the blast and determine whether any safety precautions were ignored during production operations.