Safety violations identified, 3 charged

Nagpur

A devastating blast at an aluminium manufacturing factory in Nagpur last week resulted in the tragic deaths of five workers, prompting an investigation into safety lapses at the site. The explosion occurred on April 11 at MMP Aluminium Industries, located in Umred MIDC, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The victims, all young adults between the ages of 20 and 25, were residents of the local area.

Two other workers who suffered severe burn injuries, covering about 80% of their bodies, remain in critical condition. They were initially treated at the Government Medical College and Hospital but were transferred to a private hospital for better care on Saturday.

An official report from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) revealed serious safety violations at the factory. The factory's management failed to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its workers, thereby exposing them to unnecessary risks. Additionally, the report stated that two workers who had recently joined the company were not given proper safety training before being assigned to the site.

In response to the findings, the Umred police registered a case on Sunday against three officials of the company, including two managers and a safety in-charge. They have been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to causing death by negligence, negligent conduct with fire, and recklessly endangering the safety of others. As of now, no arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing. The authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding the blast and the role of these safety violations in the tragic incident.