Worker killed in factory explosion

Premises was used for making firecrackers without safety measures

KURIANWALA:

A worker was killed and two other people, including a woman, suffered severe burn injuries in an explosion at a firecracker factory on Jaranwala Road.

The roof of the building collapsed because of the explosion

Rescue personnel rushed the injured to a hospital where they were stated to be in a critical condition.

Saddar police took the body into custody for postmortem. It was later handed over to the family of the deceased.

A case was registered against two persons responsible for running the business and one of them was arrested.

The powerful explosion took place in the factory of Nadir Ali at Yasin Chowk on Jaranwala Road, within the limits of Saddar police station, at 10:30am. The roof of the factory collapsed due to the intensity of the explosion.

Ghulam Shabbir, son of Mukhtar Ahmed, a resident of 229RB Makoana area, who was working in the factory, died on the spot. He was 40 years old.

Fauzia Bibi, 24, a resident of Chak 228RB, and Saifur Rehman, 60, of Kasur district, were severely injured in the incident.

Rescue 1122 personnel shifted them to the Allied Hospital Burns Unit after providing them initial medical assistance on the spot.

Saddar Police Station SHO Asim Rashid reached the affected building along with his team after the explosion.

The police took the body of Ghulam Shabir into custody to complete the legal procedure, including postmortem. The body was later handed over to the heirs of the deceased.

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A case was registered against factory owner Nadir Ali and Azhar Javed under various legal provisions.

Media reports show that at least 11 people have lost their lives in explosions at firecracker factories in Faisalabad during past 10 months. A number of other people have been severely injured, some suffering disability for life.

Sources in the police say there are 19 firecracker factories and also 35 houses used for the work within the limits of Saddar and Khurrianwala police stations. The preparation of raw material and production of the firecrackers is carried out in the premises.

The factories are located in various localities including Mai Mastani, Old Abad Makoana, Chishti Nagar, Izafi Abadi and Shafiq Town.

Civil Defence and police officials allegedly ignore the hazardous business in their areas.

In the first 10 months of this year, there have been four explosions at firecracker manufacturing units in the Makoana and Jaranwala Road areas. A total of 11 people were killed and several others injured in the incidents. The first explosion in the year claimed the lives of five people.

Cases were registered by the police after the incidents, but the factories were allowed to operate again.

A senior police officer said in reply to a question that the people operating the factories had acquired licences for the work. Their activities could not be stopped if they had the permits, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2021.