Kolkata, Oct 18 (IANS) At least four workers died after a chimney collapsed at a private sponge iron factory in Jamuria in West Bengal’s West Burdwan district, the police said on Sunday.
Another worker was seriously injured. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the chimney collapse and whether safety rules were followed during construction.
After the accident, a section of residents and workers erupted in anger in the factory premises. According to local sources, the protesters also clashed with the police personnel. The police were trying to control the situation.
According to local sources, a chimney was being constructed in Unit 3 of the Shyamsel factory in Jamuria on Saturday night. A few workers were working when suddenly the chimney collapsed. In an instant, the workers were buried under the rubble. Hearing the loud noise, other factory workers rushed to the spot. They were the first to start the rescue work. Later, the police, fire brigade and rescue teams of the state’s disaster management force reached the spot.
After a long rescue operation, five workers were rescued from under the rubble and sent to the hospital. Doctors declared four of them dead. Another seriously injured worker has been admitted to a private hospital in Durgapur.
Two of the deceased have been identified as Sukanta Pal and Balaram Mandal. According to local sources, both are residents of Jamuria. According to colleagues, the third deceased worker is a native of Assam. The identity of the fourth worker is not yet known. As soon as the news of the accident spread, family members of the deceased and injured, and many locals gathered in front of the factory.
Questions have been raised about the safety system installed at the factory after the accident. There has been a demand to investigate whether the necessary safety measures to protect workers were available, and whether the prescribed technical rules were followed in the construction of the chimney structure. However, the real reason for the collapse of the chimney is still not clear.
Jamuria MLA Bijan Mukherjee and Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar reached the spot at night after receiving the news. The MLA said the cause of the accident was being investigated. Whether there was any negligence in the safety system during the construction work will also be investigated, he said.
Mukherjee said that discussions will be held with the factory authorities regarding providing financial compensation to the families of the deceased workers and arranging proper treatment for the injured workers.
Jamuria police have also started an investigation into the incident. A police officer from Jamuria police station said that they are investigating who was in charge of the construction work, whether necessary precautions were taken in building the chimney and what measures were taken to ensure the safety of the workers. However, no detailed statement has been received from the factory authorities about the accident yet.
–IANS
sch/dpb
