Oxygen Cylinder Blast Kills Three Workers at Raipur Pig Iron Factory
Three workers were killed in an oxygen cylinder explosion at a pig iron factory in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Tuesday, a senior police official confirmed. The blast occurred in the factory premises located in the Siltara industrial area, around 20 km from the state capital.
According to Raipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Singh, two workers died on the spot due to the impact of the explosion, while a third succumbed to severe injuries while being rushed to a nearby hospital. The deceased have been identified as Ramesh Sahu (32), Manoj Yadav (28), and Sunil Verma (35), all residents of Raipur district.
Details of the Incident
The blast took place around 3:30 PM when workers were reportedly handling oxygen cylinders near the furnace area. The exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, but preliminary investigations suggest a possible leak or mishandling of the cylinder. The factory, owned by M/s Shiv Shakti Pig Iron Pvt Ltd, has been sealed pending a thorough inquiry.
“A team of forensic experts and the factory inspector have been deployed to the site. We are collecting evidence and recording statements from eyewitnesses,” SP Singh said.
Impact and Response
The explosion sent shockwaves through the industrial area, prompting a swift response from local fire brigade and police teams. Ambulances arrived within minutes, but the severity of injuries proved fatal for three workers. Two other workers sustained minor injuries and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Raipur.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each from the state government. “The incident is deeply tragic. We have ordered a magisterial inquiry to fix responsibility and prevent such accidents in future,” the CM said in a statement.
Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli also took note of the incident, directing the Directorate General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) to submit a report within 15 days.
Safety Concerns Raised
Local trade union leaders have alleged negligence on the part of the factory management. “This is a clear case of violation of safety norms. The workers were not provided with proper training or protective gear,” said Rajesh Pandey, secretary of the Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdoor Sangh. The factory had reportedly faced minor safety violations in the past, but no major action was taken.
The state labour department has registered a case under the Factories Act, 1948, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for causing death by negligence. An official said that the factory’s safety audit records are being examined.
This incident adds to a series of industrial accidents in Chhattisgarh, which has seen at least 15 such fatalities in the past year alone, according to state labour department data. Authorities have vowed to tighten enforcement of safety protocols across all industrial units in the region.
