Tragedy Strikes Maharashtra: Blast Claims Lives at Explosives Factory
A devastating explosion at Solar Industries India, an explosives manufacturing facility in Chakdoh, Nagpur district, claimed nine lives and left three individuals critically injured. The aftermath of this tragic incident has ignited a storm of accusations and demands within the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Opposition legislators fiercely condemned the alleged safety lapses at the factory, highlighting long-standing concerns regarding the welfare of workers. Congress MLC Shashikant Shinde pointed out that this wasn’t the first time such a catastrophe had struck the company, citing previous incidents. The demand for accountability resonated loudly, with the opposition leader Ambadas Danve insisting on a comprehensive report from the Nagpur district collector to pinpoint responsibility. Danve also stressed the absence of mandated safety drills at the factory, underscoring the denial of access to industrial safety department officials.
The issue of worker exploitation took center stage, with Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap highlighting discrepancies in wages, emphasizing that the company paid significantly below the mandated minimum wage in Maharashtra. There were impassioned calls for justice and demands for the regularization of workers’ employment status.
The gravity of the situation prompted Council Chairperson Neelam Gorhe to announce a scheduled discussion under section 97 of the rules. Meanwhile, the company had announced compensation of ₹20 lakh for the victims, raising questions about the valuation of human lives in the face of such tragedies.
Amidst this turmoil, Solar Industries India’s senior general manager, Ashish Srivastava, clarified that the blast occurred during sealing work on boosters used in coal mines. Authorities have initiated legal action, registering a case against unidentified persons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning negligence causing death and careless conduct regarding explosive substances.
As Maharashtra grapples with this harrowing incident, the demand for accountability, fair treatment of workers, and stringent safety measures at industrial sites reverberate within the corridors of power, signaling a call for urgent and comprehensive action.
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