18 Indians among 23 killed in LPG tanker blast in Sudan factory
   Date :05-Dec-2019
Sudan factory_1 &nbs
 Members of Sudanese Civil Defence put out a fire at a ceramic unit in an industrial zone in north Khartoum on Tuesday. (AFP)
 
 
KHARTOUM :
 
Official sources said that 68 Indians were working in the ceramic factory where the LPG tanker blast occurred 
 
AT LEAST 18 Indians were among 23 people killed and over 130 injured in a horrific LPG tanker blast at a ceramic factory in Sudan, the Indian mission said here on Wednesday. Sixteen Indians were missing after the incident that happened at Seela Ceramic Factory in Bahri area in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday. “As per latest reports, but so far not confirmed officially, 18 are dead,” the Indian Embassy said in a release. “Some of the missing may be in the list of dead which we are still to receive as identification is not possible because of the bodies being burnt,” it added.
 
Official sources in New Delhi said 68 Indians were working in the factory. “Deeply grieved to learn that some Indian workers have lost their lives while some others have been seriously injured,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. “The Embassy representative has rushed to the site. A 24-hour emergency hotline +249-921917471 has been set up by @EoI_Khartoum. Embassy is also putting out updates on social media. Our prayers are with the workers and their families,” he tweeted.
 
The Indian Embassy on Wednesday issued a detailed list of Indians who were hospitalised, went missing or survived the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his anguish over the blast in a ceramic factory in Sudan which claimed the lives of 23 people, including 18 Indians, and injured 130 others. “Anguished by the blast in a ceramic factory in Sudan, where some Indian workers have lost their lives and some are injured. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured,” Modi tweeted, adding that the Indian embassy in Sudan is providing all possible assistance to those affected in the incident.