Odisha government directs blaze-hit gutkha unit to stop operations

SAMBALPUR: The state government on Tuesday issued a notice to the gutkha manufacturing unit at Pardhiapali in Sambalpur district, where 28 people suffered burn injuries in a fire that broke out on Monday, to shut down operations.
“During inspection of the unit on Tuesday, it was found that the factory was operating without fire hydrant pipelines,” said an official of the directorate of factories and boilers, which is entrusted to enforce various industrial acts and rules.
Assistant director of the department, Umakanta Samantray, said factories using hazardous and chemical substances must not operate without fire hydrants, which prevent the outbreak and spread fire. “But the unit was found to be operating without the fire hydrant pipelines, which is a violation of rules. Electrical short circuit is the reason behind the mishap. However, had there been hydrant pipelines installed in the factory, the spread of fire could have been prevented and so many workers would not have been injured,” he said.
Samantray said that during inspection, it was also found that the place where the labourers were working was a closed chamber.
The police have also registered a case against owner Vaibabh Pandey and the management of the unit under IPC sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).
Of the 28 injured people, 11 had been shifted to the Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela, on Monday. Ainthapali police station inspector in-charge Jogesh Panda said out of the 11 injured in IGH, the condition of two is critical while others are stable.
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