Nashik factory blast toll rises to 22; special team to investigate

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Nashik, May 7 (UNI) The death toll in the explosion in a gelatin factory at Sinnar in this district on Saturday has increased to 22 with the death of a driver of a tanker.

So far, eight people have been declared dead, while 14 are still missing. They have, however, not been declared dead officially.

Meanwhile, a team of experts from six departments has been constituted to investigate the cause of the blast.

Sub-divisional officer of Naphad taluka Ramdas Khedkar will inquire into the blast, whereas the experts, including Deputy Labour Commissioner, Boiler Inspector, Electricity Department Engineer of the Public works department, Industrial Safety Director and the Directors of the department that gives permission to manufacturing and sales of explosives, will inquire into the cause of the blast, sources said.

Two teams have been created under the guidance of Deputy Superintendent Sanjay Barkund. One team will investigate into the missing persons while the other team will probe into the cause of the blast.

Primary conclusions reveal that the blast could have been caused by 3.5 tonnes of explosives. Officials have presently rejected any possibility of 'sabotage' saying that the blasts could have been caused due to negligence.

Samples of the material (explosives) found at the blast site have been sent to laboratories in Mumbai and Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) here.

The search and rescue operations for bodies and missing persons in the blast have been completed, sources said.

The police is questioning company's Chief Manager B K Paul, Assistant Manager T Raghuveer, Boiler Assistant D Ohdle, Supervisor Nitin Mekhe Bharatsingh, K Bhaskaran and Rajesh.

They are on the look out of two owners of the company P L Kalia and Mr Mahesh Maheshwari.

Meanwhile, the CRPF squads from Aurangabad, Pune and Industrial Safety Department officials inspected the blast site.

Labour Minister Ganesh Naik and MLA Manikrao Kokate had also visited the site yesterday.

UNI

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