Two killed in fireworks factory blast

This is sixth such incident in Faisalabad district this year

KURIANWALA:

A woman and her child were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Khurrianwala.

The deceased were identified as 31-year-old Anwar Bibi and her 9-year-old daughter Alia. They were employees in the factory.

Qamar had set up the factory to manufacture fireworks within the agricultural area at 229 RB Makwana, 15 kilometers south of Khurrianwala police station. This is the sixth such incident in Faisalabad district this year. In all, about 17 people were killed and dozens became disabled.

The blast was so loud that it was heard even in the far away areas. Police seized the bodies and handed them over to their heirs after taking necessary action. The blast collapsed the roofs of the factory and also killed a buffalo and a cow tied in the yard of the factory.

Rescue 1122 and police rescue teams reached the spot, cleared the factory after hours of struggle and handed over the bodies of the mother and daughter to their relatives after postmortem.

On the statement of Javed Iqbal Khan, in charge of Chowki Makwana, a case number 1363/21 under the provision of 322-285-286 TPP against factory owner Qamar had been registered for not taking precautionary measures in the factory and showing negligence. The search for the accused factory owner had begun. From January 1 to November 25, a total of 17 people have been killed in a total of seven blasts in factories preparing fireworks in the jurisdiction of two police stations of Faisalabad district, Saddar and Kharrianwala Police Stations.

 

Three of the blasts took place within the limits of the Saddar Police Station and four in the area of Khurrianwala Police Station.

Dozens of factories are preparing fireworks on a single license where women and children are also employed.

Last year an elderly man was killed while a woman and her daughter were injured when an explosive device detonated at a fireworks factory on Jaranwala Road.

As per police records, Abdul Rauf Nasir had started work by renting Aurangzeb Bhatti’s place in Mai Mastani Road, Hashmat Nagar area with a licence to manufacture crackers.

On the day of the incident, an explosive material produced in the fireworks factory suddenly went off during the afternoon. As a result of the incident, 50-year-old Abbas, son of Mumtaz Ahmed, was killed while 50-year-old Sakina Bibi, wife of Ahmed Ali, and her 23-year-old daughter Rani Bibi sustained injuries. Rescue 1122 personnel provided medical aid to the injured. Abbas died on the spot.

The roof and walls of the mansion collapsed due to the blast. The injured mother and daughter were shifted to Allied Hospital. Upon receiving the report of the blast, a heavy contingent of police reached the spot to conduct investigation. They collected the body parts of the deceased Abbas and shifted them to Allied Hospital for postmortem.

A case was registered against various people including the factory owner under different provisions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2021.