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Ggm admin sets up 5-member panel to probe Daulatabad blast

Four people were killed and 12 others were severely injured when multiple explosions occurred after a fire broke out at a manufacturing unit in Daulatabad Industrial Area at Sector-104 in the city early on Saturday morning. The factory manufactures fire extinguisher balls, police said

Updated on: Jun 24, 2024, 06:08:16 IST
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Gurugram: The Gurugram administration has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to investigate the Daulatabad blast and find the exact cause as well as the people who were responsible for the incident, officials aware of the matter said.

Members of the Haryana State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), firefighters and police personnel conduct a search and rescue operation at the blast site in Daulatabad Industrial Area near the Dwarka Expressway on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)
Members of the Haryana State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), firefighters and police personnel conduct a search and rescue operation at the blast site in Daulatabad Industrial Area near the Dwarka Expressway on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav announced on Sunday that a committee, chaired by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, will investigate the matter. The committee comprises an Assistant Commissioner of Police, an Executive Engineer from the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (DHBVN), an official from the Industrial Safety and Health Department, the District Fire Officer, and another officer from DHBVN.

“The committee has been tasked with investigating the cause of the accident, understanding why it led to the blast, assessing the damage, and determining the appropriate compensation and recipients. They have been instructed to submit their report within seven days considering all possible aspects. The committee will inspect the area, record statements from labourers and eyewitnesses and ensure that all relevant facts are included in the report,” Yadav said.

Four people were killed and 12 others were severely injured when multiple explosions occurred after a fire broke out at a manufacturing unit in Daulatabad Industrial Area at Sector-104 in the city early on Saturday morning. The factory manufactures fire extinguisher balls, police said.

Investigators revealed that the factory did not have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department.

Karan Goel, deputy commissioner of police (west), said that during the investigation it was revealed that the factory did not possess a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. “We are currently cross-checking with all departments to ascertain whether they had previously applied for the NOC and submitted a layout plan for approval from the District Town Planner (DTP),” he said.

Goel further explained that the company had started operations in Gurugram just two months ago, after previously manufacturing fire extinguisher balls in Delhi.

District fire officer of Bhimnagar fire station, Ramesh Kumar Saini, said that the factory manufactured fire extinguishing balls which have a mini explosive device inside that detonates at a particular temperature. “We have learnt that some workers were welding some parts and the spark led to the blast. The factory had no fire system in place despite manufacturing fire extinguishing balls,” he said.

A case has been registered under sections 286 (dealing with any explosive substance with negligence), 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (death due to negligence) ,and 427 (damage to the amount of ₹50 or above) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3(A) of the Explosive Substance Act 1908 at the Rajendra Park police station on Saturday, police said.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More