E-Paper
2 boys killed, 11 hurt in blast during nagar kirtan in Tarn Taran
Blast occurred in tractor-trailer that was part of nagar kirtan, says eyewitness; seven teenagers were atop the trailer that was carrying a chemical when explosion occurred at 4.30pm
Two boys aged 12 and 18 were killed and 10 injured when potassium stocked in a tractor-trailer to create celebratory sounds during a nagar kirtan (religious procession) caught fire and exploded on Tarn Taran-Bhikhiwind road in Palasaur village, 10 km from here, on Saturday evening.
The dead have been identified as Gurpreet Singh (12) and Manpreet Singh (18) of Pahuwind village. The injured are Gurkirat Singh (16), Gursimran Singh (17), Harnoor Singh (17), Harman Singh (15), Dawinder Singh (17), Niravdeep Singh (18), Ajaypal Singh (17), Paramjot Singh (20), Sargun Singh of Pahuwind village, Anmolpreet Singh of Bhikhiwind, and Sarabjot Singh of Palasaur village.
The injured were rushed to the civil hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Super Specialty Hospital in Tarn Taran. The blast was so strong that it flung those sitting on the trailer in all directions.
The procession was on its way from Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh in Pahuwind village in Bhikhiwind sub-division to Gurdwara Tahla Sahib at Chabba village on the Tarn Taran-Amritsar road when the blast occurred at 4.30pm. The procession was held to mark the birth anniversary of Sikh martyr Baba Deep Singh.
“The procession had just reached Daleke when the blast took place in a trailer attached to a tractor in which some chemical was stored,” said Manjinder Singh, a villager.
Six to seven teenagers were on the trailer that was part of the procession. Manjinder said the teenagers were making sounds resembling gunshots during the procession using the chemical stored in the trailer.
“The teenagers were using hallowed iron rods filled with potassium to create firecracker sounds when the blast occurred,” said Sukhdaj Singh of Daleke village, an eyewitness.
A police official said, potassium is used by farmers to keep the birds and animals away from fields and is also used to create celebratory blast during religious procession. There are different versions about how blast took place. Some are saying that spark from the crackers lit the potassium.
Deputy commissioner DC Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said one of the injured Gurkirat Singh’s condition is stated to be very serious. He said others were stable. SP-headquarters Jagjit Singh Walia said they were investigating to know the exact cause of the blast.
AMARINDER ORDERS MAGISTERIAL PROBE
Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered a magisterial probe into the explosion and also announced ex gratia of ₹5 lakh to the kin of those who were killed, besides free treatment of the injured.
Expressing shock and grief over the incident, the CM has asked the Tarn Taran sub divisional magistrate (SDM) to conduct an inquiry into the incident and fix responsibility for the lapses. He also directed the Tarn Taran deputy commissioner to ensure that the injured get the best possible treatment.
