Dewas cracker factory blast: Missing person case registered; death toll rises to six

Indore: A week after a massive explosion occurred at a firecracker factory in Tonk Kalan area of Dewas district, police have registered a missing person case amid fears that one worker may have been blown apart in the blast due to its intensity.

On Tuesday, one more injured worker succumbed during treatment at MY Hospital, taking the death toll to six. The deceased was identified as Ram, 20, a resident of Arariya village in Bihar, who had suffered over 80% burns in the incident.

MY hospital superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav said that in all four victims of Dewas blast including Ram, Niranjan, and Ajay were admitted in MY Hospital. The fourth victim Vishal, was brought in neurosurgery department a day after the blast when he complained of vomiting and dizziness.

A one-member judicial commission set up by state government to inquire into the factory explosion formally commenced its investigation on Tuesday. with retired High Court judge Justice Subhash Kakade visiting the blast site. Collector Rituraj Singh and SP Puneet Gehlod were present during the inspection and briefed the commission about the sequence of events and the action taken after the explosion.

The commission visited the damaged factory premises and Jaidev warehouse in Kalma village where explosive material was allegedly stored. The commission examined the impact zone of the explosion, storage sections, chemical handling areas and arrangements made for keeping firecracker material on the premises.

The commission is to determine the cause of the explosion and identify lapses, if any, on the part of factory operators or officials responsible for monitoring compliance. The panel will also review whether mandatory safety protocols related to explosive handling, storage and manufacturing were ignored.

BOX

SIT arrests factory operator’s brother

The Special Investigation Team constituted by Dewas police in connection with the factory explosion case has arrested Kapil Wij after conducting raids at multiple locations in Delhi. Police said Kapil was allegedly involved in jointly operating the factory along with his brother Mukesh and is suspected to have played a key role in functioning of the unit where the deadly blast occurred. The SIT is probing the operational structure of the factory, storage of explosive material and possible violations linked to the incident.