At least 23 people were killed and 27 injured in a blaze in a firecracker factory at Batala town in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on September 4.
The exact reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained and the Punjab government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into it.
An explosion took place around 4 p.m. in the factory, situated in a three-storey building in the residential area. The impact of the blast was so powerful that a few nearby buildings and parked vehicles were damaged.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed.
Police sources said the number of those perished in the incident might rise as some people were trapped under the debris of the building that collapsed after the explosion.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lac for the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the seven severely injured, who were referred to the Amritsar Medical College. He also announced Rs. 25,000 for those who sustained minor injuries.
Gurdaspur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Deepak Bhatia told reporters, “The reason [for the blast] would be ascertained after the investigation. Rescue operations are on.”
Responding to allegations that the factory was “illegally”' run in the residential area, Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal said “the focus right now was on saving precious lives.”
Sukhbir’s demand
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded an immediate enforcement of the directions of the Supreme Court on all firecracker factories in the State.
He demanded strict action against officials guilty of not enforcing safety codes vis-a-vis firecracker factories. He also asked the State government to give adequate compensation to the victims’ families.
(With PTI inputs)
