Cachar (Assam): Four workers lost their lives and another sustained minor injuries after a powerful explosion ripped through a steel manufacturing unit in Assam’s Cachar district on Sunday morning, triggering a major rescue operation and multiple official investigations.
The explosion occurred at around 11:03 am at the Ladi Steel factory in Pangram under the Udharbond Assembly constituency. Teams from the district administration, Cachar Police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the site, while local residents and factory workers joined rescue efforts to recover the victims.
State Cabinet Minister Kaushik Rai, who visited the factory along with Cachar Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia, said rescue operations were launched immediately to ensure no workers remained trapped inside the premises. He added that the exact cause of the explosion would be established only after a detailed investigation.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the four deceased workers.
According to Udharbond MLA Rajdeep Goala, three of the deceased were residents of the local area, while the fourth victim, a driver, hailed from Tripura. The bodies have been sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination. The injured worker is undergoing treatment at Udharbond Hospital and is reported to be out of danger.
The Cachar district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Separate investigations have also been initiated by Cachar Police and the Labour Department to determine the cause of the blast and assess whether the factory complied with prescribed industrial safety standards.
Officials said the inquiry would also examine allegations from local residents that smaller explosions had occurred at the unit on previous occasions. Investigators will verify whether such incidents were reported to the authorities and whether any lapses in workplace safety or statutory compliance contributed to Sunday’s tragedy.
Meanwhile, police have detained the factory manager and other management personnel for questioning. The factory owners, who were reportedly away at the time of the incident, have been directed to appear before the investigating authorities on Monday.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia said a formal FIR will be registered, while a forensic team from Guwahati is expected to inspect the site and collect evidence to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
The district administration has also initiated discussions with the factory management regarding additional compensation for the families of the deceased. Investigations into the incident are continuing.
