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Rediff.com  » News » Inquiry announced into firecracker factory blasts

Inquiry announced into firecracker factory blasts

By Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna
September 15, 2005 20:18 IST
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The Patna District Magistrate B Rajendran has ordered an inquiry into the explosion in godowns of two firecracker factories in which - according to official accounts - 34 people were killed.

A major explosion took place in godowns of two firecracker factories at Miya Toli in Khusrupur near Patna on Thursday in which nearly 100 people were injured.

Rajendran said that he ordered an inquiry into the cause of explosion and how the firecracker factory was operating without a license.

Unconfirmed reports said nearly 50 people were killed in the explosion. Local people accused the administration of suppressing the actual death toll.

District officials have confirmed 32 deaths at the site of explosion in godowns of factories and two more death of critically injured people in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna where several injured were admitted for treatment.

Bihar DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha told rediff.com that factory owner Hakim Mian has been arrested by police and is being interrogated for details about the factory and what caused the explosion.

The police officials said they feared a rise in the death toll because a few more bodies were under debris of collapsed houses of godowns and nearby houses.

Rajendra said 32 bodies have been extricated from the debris of the two factories that were reduced to ashes in the blasts. He said the toll was likely to rise as some bodies were still believed to be trapped in the debris.

Sources said the factory has been running for 35 years with a licence for manufacture of matchsticks only.

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Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna
 
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