Five people, including the owner of an iron casting unit in Assam’s Cachar district, have been arrested in connection with the explosion that killed four workers and injured several others at the factory, police said on Tuesday. The owner of the unit, Rakesh Kumar Surana, was arrested from Guwahati on Monday and later brought to Udharbond Police Station in Cachar for questioning. Police have booked him on charges of alleged negligence, accusing him of failing to ensure adequate safety measures at the industrial unit. Four others, including the factory manager, who had been detained soon after the incident, were also formally arrested on Monday as the investigation into the blast gathered pace.
The explosion took place on Sunday at an iron casting unit located in a shared industrial compound at Pangram under the jurisdiction of Udharbond Police Station. The powerful blast claimed the lives of four workers and left several others injured.Police said forensic experts will inspect the factory to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Investigators are examining whether lapses in safety protocols contributed to the incident.According to preliminary findings, the blast is suspected to have been caused by an LPG cylinder leak during casting operations. Officials, however, said the exact cause will be confirmed only after the forensic examination and technical investigation are completed.The deceased have been identified as Kiran Munda, Appu Baraik, Shyamal Gour and Sagar Nath. Their bodies were recovered after the explosion, while the injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
The arrests were made as part of the police investigation into the incident, with officials looking into possible violations of industrial safety norms and other legal provisions. The role of those responsible for the operation and supervision of the unit is also under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of the four deceased workers.
