6 die in factory accident

Workers die of shock as crane touches exposed wires.

LAHORE:

Six labourers died and three were injured after receiving electric shock while working at a factory that manufactures spare parts for cars.

The incident occurred in the Nishtar Colony police precinct late night on Friday.

The deceased were identified as Razzaq, Ijaz, Zulfiqar, Usman, Asif and Sabir.  The injured labourers have been identified as Tariq, Shoaib and Allah Rakha.

On Friday night, a consignment of goods arrived at the factory. The nine labourers were helping off-load the delivery. They were holding on to iron chains when the lower sheave and hook of the crane came in contact with exposed electric wires, according to an eyewitness, Rashid. “The crane hook came in contact with electric wires while the machinery was being shifted to the first floor. It happened suddenly,” he said. Other labourers present at that time called rescue officials who rushed the labourers to General Hospital where six of them succumbed to burn injuries. Doctors say that Tariq, Shoaib and Allah Rakha are in critical condition. The families of the victims refused to take the bodies home for burial. They are demanding that the factory owner pay them compensation.

Police said that the driver of the crane managed to escape. An official said they had arrested Hafeez, an employee of the company that had provided the. The police hope that Hafeez will help them in apprehending the crane driver.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2011.