Guwahati: Five people, including the owner of an iron casting unit in Assam’s Cachar district, have been arrested in connection with the explosion that killed four workers earlier this week, police said on Monday.
The factory owner, Rakesh Kumar Surana, was apprehended in Guwahati on Monday and later taken to Udharbond Police Station in Cachar for further questioning. Investigators have booked him on charges of alleged negligence, accusing him of failing to ensure adequate safety measures at the industrial unit.
Four others, including the factory manager, who had initially been detained following the incident, were formally arrested as the investigation progressed.
Police said a team of forensic experts will examine the site to determine the exact cause of the explosion and gather technical evidence.
The blast occurred on Sunday at an iron casting unit located in a shared industrial compound at Pangram under the jurisdiction of Udharbond Police Station. Four workers lost their lives, while several others suffered injuries.
According to preliminary findings, investigators suspect that an LPG cylinder leak during the casting process triggered the explosion.
The deceased have been identified as Kiran Munda, Appu Baraik, Shyamal Gour and Sagar Nath, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of the four deceased workers.