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Hapur explosion death toll rises to 13, both accused held
The two accused in the explosion at a factory in Hapur have been arrested even as another labourer died at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, taking the death toll to 13 on Sunday
The two accused in the explosion at a factory in Hapur have been arrested even as another labourer died at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, taking the death toll to 13 on Sunday. At least 20 injured labourers are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Meerut and Delhi for burn injuries.
Both, Dilshad Khan, owner, and Wasim, who had taken the factory on rent, have been arrested from Hapur on Sunday, additional superintendent of police (ASP) Sarvesh Mishra confirmed. Wasim had fled the factory shortly after the explosion.
“Wasim and Dilshad were arrested on Sunday in Hapur. These two have been named in the FIR,” Mishra added.
Initial reports suggest that the factory, where the explosion occurred, was owned by Dilshad Khan of Meerut, who had rented it out to Wasim a few months ago. Dilshad had a license to manufacture electric equipment at the factory, but Wasim illegally started making crackers there when he took over.
ASP Mishra said that a case of culpable homicide has been registered against Dilshad Khan and Wasim.
Meanwhile, Hapur district magistrate Medha Roopam has formed a committee of officials to check industries in the Dhaulana industrial area and other locations.
The committee formed by the district magistrate checked 11 factories in the Dhaulana area on Sunday and sealed three units for various violations and other shortcomings.
“The committee checked 11 factories and sealed three of them for violating rules and regulations,” ASP Mishra said, adding that the industrial area has over 1000 factories and the committee would be checking them all to ensure that all the units are adhering to all the rules and regulations.
The committee will also check whether the product being manufactured at the industrial units is the same for which approval has been given, ASP added.
Meanwhile, taking note of the incident, the divisional commissioner of Meerut Surendra Singh has directed the district magistrates of Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Noida to form similar committees in their respective districts and conduct a survey of factories in their regions.
“I have directed the district magistrates of the division to conduct similar checking in their respective districts to ascertain that factories were adhering to all the rules and regulations and such incidents could be prevented in future,” Singh said.
