"Body Parts Scattered": 4 Killed As Molten Metal Explodes In Assam Factory

Four persons, including a resident of Tripura's Agartala, died after molten metal exploded inside a metal processing industry in Assam's Cachar district on Sunday morning.

The explosion happened at around 11 am at Kade Global Infrastructure LLP's metal processing unit in Udharbond. Locals said that the blast was so powerful that it was heard across the locality.

Locals said that they rushed to the spot after hearing a massive explosion and found the victims' bodies severely dismembered, with body parts scattered across the area.

"The sound was deafening. When we reached the spot, we saw that the bodies had been torn apart, with body parts scattered over a wide area," a resident said.

Police, fire and emergency personnel rushed to the factory soon after the explosion and rescued several injured workers. While some were shifted to hospitals for treatment, others sustained minor injuries and later returned home.

The victims were identified as Appu Boraik, Kiron Munda, Shyamal Gaur and Sagar Nath from Tripura's Agartala. Police said all four died on the spot. After doctors at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) confirmed the deaths, the bodies were sent for postmortem examination.

"The bodies have been identified by the family members. A case will be registered and further investigation is underway," Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjeev Saikia said.

According to the police, Kade Global Infrastructure LLP was established in the area a few years ago and operates two units where scrap metal collected from different sources is processed. Sunday's explosion occurred at the newer unit at Pangram, which was set up around a year ago.

Assam minister Kaushik Rai, who visited the spot, said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered along with a police investigation and a separate probe by the District Labour Commissioner to ascertain whether mandatory safety measures for workers were followed.

"The district administration has sought details from the owners regarding the safety measures being followed in the factory. The exact cause of the explosion is also being investigated. At present, a four-layer investigation is underway," Rai said.

He said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had called him to take stock of the situation and assured that the state government would provide Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the victims.

"We will also ask the company owners to provide adequate compensation to the family members," he added.

Residents alleged that similar explosions of comparatively lower intensity had taken place at the factory several times in the past but were never officially reported.

"They don't allow us to go inside, but such incidents have happened several times before. The victims never showed up afterwards and, as per our knowledge, they were workers from other states who were quietly sent back. We want a proper investigation into everything," a resident alleged.

The family members of one of the victims, Appu Boraik, echoed the allegations and claimed that the management initially tried to hide Sunday's incident as well.

"We were told that he had been injured, but they did not allow us to go inside. Now they are saying that he has died, but even then we were not allowed to see him immediately. This shows they were trying to hide the entire incident. We demand a proper investigation," a family member alleged. Boraik is survived by his wife and a young child.

Responding to the allegations, Rai said that if evidence of previous incidents emerges during the investigation, the government will examine those as well.

"As I said, a four-layer investigation is underway and everyone found accountable for the mishap will be brought under the law. Not only this, the state government will also examine the safety measures being followed in similar industries across the state," he said.

Hundreds of residents from Pangram and neighbouring areas gathered outside the factory on Sunday afternoon and staged a protest, alleging repeated safety violations and demanding strict action against those responsible.

The owners of Kade Global Infrastructure LLP could not be reached for comment.