Tragic accident: Factory owner died hours before sons’ wedding reception
Police have booked two of his brothers in the FIR
PHOTO: MOHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Sunday was meant to be a big day for Mehtab. The valima reception of two of his youngest sons was to be held that day. Little did he know that he would not live to join the festivities.
Mehtab lost his life, along with five of his employees, in an accident in his pickle factory. According to the initial investigations, all the victims fell into the underground tank containing chemicals one after the other, as they attempted to rescue their colleagues.
"We had asked Mehtab uncle not to go to work that day but he insisted because he had to complete the consignment," said a relative, Shoaib Ali. "At home, we were busy with the arrangements for the valima reception and were waiting for him to return." Mehtab returned home in a coffin. The wedding fervour quickly changed into a spectre of grief and despair.
All his life, Mehtab had made a living off manufacturing and selling pickle. His livelihood ultimately caused his death. He belonged to the 'Achar Murraba' community. Mehtab's funeral prayers were offered at a mosque near his residence and he was later laid to rest.
Meanwhile, the police have registered a case of the incident. FIR No. 249/15 was registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station on behalf of the state. Mehtab's brothers - Shadab and Imran - were nominated in the case while the police have imposed Sections 322 and 288 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Though the case has been registered against Mehtab's brothers, there have been no arrests so far. The watchman of the factory, his son and two other employees, who were detained from the factory on the day of the incident, were released after interrogation.
"The detainees were absolved of all blame. They did not know anything about the incident and we did not find any clue against them during the interrogation," said the investigation officer, inspector Jafar Baloch. "So far, we have not arrested anyone because the family is in mourning but we will be making arrests soon."
Police have yet to ascertain if the factory was legal. They plan to ask the food department if the type of chemicals being stored in the tank were allowed to be used in the food-manufacturing industry. "We are still trying to ascertain the facts behind the incident," said the officer. "We are also waiting for the post-mortem report to reconfirm the nature of the deaths."
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2015.
Sunday was meant to be a big day for Mehtab. The valima reception of two of his youngest sons was to be held that day. Little did he know that he would not live to join the festivities.
Mehtab lost his life, along with five of his employees, in an accident in his pickle factory. According to the initial investigations, all the victims fell into the underground tank containing chemicals one after the other, as they attempted to rescue their colleagues.
"We had asked Mehtab uncle not to go to work that day but he insisted because he had to complete the consignment," said a relative, Shoaib Ali. "At home, we were busy with the arrangements for the valima reception and were waiting for him to return." Mehtab returned home in a coffin. The wedding fervour quickly changed into a spectre of grief and despair.
All his life, Mehtab had made a living off manufacturing and selling pickle. His livelihood ultimately caused his death. He belonged to the 'Achar Murraba' community. Mehtab's funeral prayers were offered at a mosque near his residence and he was later laid to rest.
Meanwhile, the police have registered a case of the incident. FIR No. 249/15 was registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station on behalf of the state. Mehtab's brothers - Shadab and Imran - were nominated in the case while the police have imposed Sections 322 and 288 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Though the case has been registered against Mehtab's brothers, there have been no arrests so far. The watchman of the factory, his son and two other employees, who were detained from the factory on the day of the incident, were released after interrogation.
"The detainees were absolved of all blame. They did not know anything about the incident and we did not find any clue against them during the interrogation," said the investigation officer, inspector Jafar Baloch. "So far, we have not arrested anyone because the family is in mourning but we will be making arrests soon."
Police have yet to ascertain if the factory was legal. They plan to ask the food department if the type of chemicals being stored in the tank were allowed to be used in the food-manufacturing industry. "We are still trying to ascertain the facts behind the incident," said the officer. "We are also waiting for the post-mortem report to reconfirm the nature of the deaths."
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2015.