Blast at Asian Fireworks Company: Manager held for culpable homicide

Kalmeshwar Police have arrested Manager of Asian Fireworks and Explosives Company on the charges of culpable homicide after officials from the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) conducted inspections of the blast site on Monday. The accused has been identified as Mustafa Saifuddin Shegaonwala. According to police, a case under Sections 106(1), 288, and 125(b) of the BNS was registered on Sunday following an incident in which two workers were killed and three others sustained injuries.

 

After conducting the inspection, the PESO officials concluded that the company was operating negligently and had failed to provide the workers with safety gear as per the norms. As a result, a charge of culpable homicide was added to the FIR, and the manager was arrested. Further arrests and actions will be based on interrogation of the manager. The accused will be presented in court on Tuesday. It should be noted that two workers were killed and three others were seriously injured in a massive explosion at the company in Kotwalbaddi village, Katol tehsil, on Sunday afternoon. The blast occurred while workers were heating coal powder in a blower.

 

 

Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited the blast site and took stock of the situation. He directed the company administration to provide Rs 20 lakh to the family members of each deceased person in the explosion and Rs 5 lakh each to the injured persons. He assured support from the State Government to the families of the blast victims.

 

 

Officials from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) also conducted an inspection of the blast site and informed that DISH had issued a notice to the company on July 1, 2024, to shut down operations due to a lack of facilities. However, the company continued to operate despite receiving the notice.

 

 

Swapnil Wankhede, President of Maharashtra Rajya Barood Factory Mazdoor Sanghatana, on Monday submitted a memorandum to Superintendent of Police (SP) Nagpur Rural Dr Harssh Poddar and demanded stern action against the persons responsible for the blast at the Asian Fireworks company. Wankhede demanded that the proper inquiry in the case and quick action against the culprits. He stated that the PESO officials must investigate whether the laborers were provided proper safety gears or not.