NEW DELHI, Sept 14, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) — The death toll from the chemical
factory explosion on Wednesday in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
has risen to seven, as one more body was recovered in the methane gas boiler
tank, police said Friday.
The gas boiler tank exploded on Wednesday at Mohit Petro Chemical Factory
in Bijnor district, some 440 km from state capital Lucknow.
At the time, 11 people were working at the site repairing the tank that had
developed some fault a couple of days back.
“Six laborers died in the blast that day only. One more body was found
Thursday… The toll now stands at seven. We have now ended our search. Two
others injured are recovering at a hospital,” a police official said.
The owner of the factory has been charged for culpable homicide not
amounting to murder. “A probe is on and the guilty will not be spared. Family
members of the deceased have also filed complaints against the factory
owner,” the official added.
State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed grief over the
incident.
Explosions and fires in small factories are common in India because of the
lack of regards for basic safety norms and absence of fire-fighting
equipment.