Death toll rises to 13, rescue work still on
LUDHIANA: Death toll from Monday’s plastic factory collapse here rose to 13 on Tuesday with rescue teams working through the night to remove the rubble of the collapsed plastic factory.
According to official records, 18 firemen were trapped in the building including two survivors who were rescued on Monday evening. While 13 bodies have been recovered so far, three more bodies belonging to firemen are still trapped inside. In addition, the rescuers fear that bodies of labourers deployed in the factory could also be trapped. A total of nine firemen have lost their lives in the mishap in addition to 7 civilians.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh visited the site of the tragedy with local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and PPCC president Sunil Jakhar where he announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of the deceased firemen along with one job per family. He also ordered that an inquiry into the incident. The families of the five civilians who lost their lives will be given ₹2 lakh each as ex-gratia.
“The inquiry will encompass all aspects of the incident and would ascertain violations by the owner of the factory in storing chemicals and going against the law ..” said the CM.
The team of the NDRF stated that only 40% of the debris has been removed till now.
Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira also visited the spot.
“The Government is solely responsible for the tragedy, there is no check on illegal buildings mushrooming everywhere,” he said adding that an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh is very less and the CM should have announced at least ₹25 lakh for the families,” he said.