3 killed, one injured in fire at Ramgarh factory

At least three employees of a steel factory in Ramgarh district died and another was injured after a fire broke out at the unit, people aware of the development said on Saturday

At least three employees of a steel factory in Ramgarh district died and another was injured after a fire broke out at the unit, people aware of the development said on Saturday.

The blaze broke out in the captive power plant of the steel factory at Helal around midnight on Friday.

“At least four employees suffered severe burn injuries. Three of them died during treatment at a hospital. The exact cause of the fire is being investigated,” Ramgarh SP Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said.

Officials identified the deceased as Sanjeev Kumar Kesri (50), a resident of Ranchi, Vinit Mahto (25), who hailed from Bokaro and Abhishek Pandey (24), a resident of Garhwa district. Injured Tarun Rajwar is undergoing treatment at a hospital at Ranchi Road.

The district administration has also initiated a probe into the incident at the captive power plant of the Maa Chinnamastika Ispat steel factory. “A two-member team, comprising a factory inspector and the Chotanagpur deputy chief inspector, is investigating the case,” an official said.

According to eyewitnesses, many workers were present at the factory at that time. They claimed that the plant caught fire following a blast in the turbine, which was allegedly caused by overheating of a control panel. The officials, however, said the claim was being investigated.