3 DIE IN AMMONIA LEAK IN PATIALA
Gas leaked after a blast in a barrel; firm’s 2 directors booked; CM orders magisterial probe
Three workers were killed and 11 others injured due to ammonia leak at a food processing unit in Rajpura sub-division of Patiala in the wee hours of Tuesday. The leakage occurred following an explosion in a gas barrel at the Himalaya Fresh Protein around 1am.
PATIALA: Three workers were killed and 11 others were injured due to ammonia leak at a food processing unit in Rajpura subdivision of Patiala district in the wee hours of Monday and Tuesday.
The leakage occurred following a massive explosion in a gas barrel at the Himalaya Fresh Protein around 1am when employees were working in the peas packaging unit. Surinder Kumar (42) of Sangolpur village, Charanjit Singh (22) and Gurjinder Singh (19), both from Baghora village in the district, were asphyxiated to death on the spot while the injured were rushed to the Government Rajindera Hospital, Patiala.
Six of the injured workers, who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), were critical, doctors said. The unit is located at Sandharsi village on the Ghanaur-Shambu road, nearly 50 kilometre from Patiala city.
Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and chemical experts from the National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL) immediately rushed to the spot to rescue the victims.
Fire tenders also arrived to minimise the spread of ammonia to nearby villages. Police have booked two of the company directors — Satish Kumar and Yashpal Singla — under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.
DSP Harjinder Singh Gill said, “The blast occurred in the main ammonia gas barrel, leading to the leakage. At least 14 workers were present in the factory at the time of the blast. Those working in the main area came in a direct contact with the gas.”
“The case was registered against the two directors on the basis of the statements of the injured,” he said.
The impact of the blast was such that the gas cylinder got torn into shreds, damaging the walls of the unit. The police said on hearing the blast, six of the men working in the outer area of the factory covered their faces and took out their fellow workers.
The relief teams cordoned off the area and plugged in the leakage points by the noon.
CM ALSO ANNOUNCES EX GRATIA FOR VICTIMS
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who expressing grief over the mishap, announced ex gratia for the victims. “A magisterial probe will look into all aspects of the incident and pin responsibility,” an official spokesperson said.
The CM announced an ex gratia of ₹1 lakh each to the next of the kin of deceased, besides free treatment to the injured, admitted in Rajindera hospital. He also ordered the Patiala deputy commissioner to oversee the rescue and relief operation.
He also ordered the civil and police administration to extend all help to the victims and support the NDRF and NFL teams.
CM ANNOUNCES AN EX GRATIA OF ₹1 LAKH EACH TO THE NEXT OF THE KIN OF DECEASED