Probe: Cylinder blast caused factory blaze

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, December 4

Three employees were killed after fire broke out in a factory at Ugoke village in the district today. Fire tenders from four districts took four hours to douse the flames at Bansal Industries.

Deputy Commissioner Dharampal Gupta has ordered Barnala SDM Sandeep Kumar to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a detailed report.

Local residents said they heard a blast in the foam-manufacturing factory around 10 am and saw smoke billowing from the premises. The DC, the SDM and other senior officers reached the spot and called fire tenders from Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Barnala districts, besides the Bhisiana Air Force Station (Bathinda).

“As per a preliminary inquiry, the fire was caused by a gas cylinder blast. The factory had no signboard. Its owners (Vijay Kumar and Shimpy) fled after the blaze spread. Their mobiles numbers were found switched off,” SDM Sandeep Kumar said.

After dousing the fire, officers were unable to enter the premises for some time due to the intense heat. Later, the charred bodies of three factory workers were found. They were identified as Jagjeet Singh (24), Sikander Singh (25) and Sadhu Singh (27).

“The SDM will ascertain whether the factory was being run illegally. We will take action as per the report,” the DC said.