4 charred to death in major Hyderabad factory fire

Hyderabad: Four workers were charred to death in a major fire at the Ashitaa Rubber Private Limited factory in the Gagan Pahad industrial area at around 5.45 am on Thursday morning. Leakage of thermo fluid oil from the boiler pipe is said to have caused the conflagration.

The four factory workers — Jai Kishen, Joginder Choudhury, Sandeep Kumar Yadav and Naval Prasad Yadav — who were sleeping in the room right below the pipe and were burnt to death. They had just retired for the night after finishing the night shift.

The rubber unit specialised in recycling old rubber tubes that are melted in a boiler, processed, and then reconstituted. A sudden increase in the temperature in the pipelines to almost 250 to 300 degree Celsius led to rupturing of the pipe-lines carrying the liquid concentrate.

The oil-like substance which started gushing out of the pipe, came in contact with other material in the room and led to an explosion. Fire tenders that arrived on the scene were able to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent rooms. But all the four men died before they could be rescued.

“The liquid was very hot and sometimes when liquids of such nature come in contact with the atmosphere and the other stored material, they become explosive. By the time the fire engine reached, the four workers were already dead,” said  S. Suresh Reddy, station fire officer, Chandulal Baradari. The estimated property loss is Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

The owner of the factory, Kailash Aggarwal, was taken into custody by the Shamshabad police. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each of the deceased has been annouced by Aggarwal.

Next: My strength is gone, wails victim’s wife

My strength is gone, wails victim’s wife

Hyderabad: “He called me last night at 10.30 pm and said that he would complete his night shift and return home the next morning. I didn’t know it would be the last time that I would speak to him,” said M. Geeta, wife of Jai Kishen, 45, who died in the factory blaze on Thursday.

Geeta says that she went numb when she was told about the tragic incident. “I didn’t know what to do. I took my younger son and rushed to the site. I just couldn’t believe my eyes,” she wept.

The couple, though originally from different cities, have been living in Hyderabad for 27 years. Jai Kishen had come from Bihar to work here and fell in love with and married Geeta, a native of Raichur. He had been working at the rubber unit for 16 years.

The Ashitaa Rubber factory at Gagan Pahadh near Hyderabad where the accident took place. — DC

Their elder son works in another factory while the younger one is still in school. “How will my family survive? It has taken away my strength. The facilities at the factory are outdated and that led to the accident. How can we trust anyone?” Geeta asked.

Certainly not the factory owner, it seems. None of the factory workers have any health benefits nor have they been given any provident fund. “We work from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm and there are two shifts. The boiler is on all night and the old rubber keeps getting processed,” said Guddu Jaiswal, a worker.

The relatives of the other deceased live in Bihar and arrived late on Thursday afternoon. The bodies could not be handed over as they were charred beyond recognition and are awaiting DNA test.

Next: Environment norms  flouted by factory

Environment norms  flouted by factory

Hyderabad: The rubber factory had no fire safety certificate and no NoC from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board for its establishment, sources said.

As per GO 111, orders were issued prohibiting various infrastructure development within 10 km radius of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar lake area, which are main sources of drinking water as per the recommendation of the Expert Committee constituted by the Water Board.

As per the order, industries, hotels, residential colonies or other establishments that generate pollution, cannot be set up in the catchment area of the lakes up to 10 kms from full tank level.

The member secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Sanjay Kumar said, that a team from the APPCB is investigating the case and information on further action will be provided within a week.

“As per the GO a steering committee was formed, which included myself, the directorate of factories and other officials. We have received a judicial direction that these factories have to be provided a new site.

There are two proposed sited at Rakamcherla and Indrakaran, where the building of infrastructure is in progress. When the infrastructure will be completed, they will be shifted there to avoid pollution. It is likely to be finished within three months,” Kumar  said.