“Four Workers Died, CM Will Provide Rs. 5 Lakh to Each Family”: Minister Kaushik Rai

The death toll in Sunday’s devastating explosion at K D Road Industry, Pangram, Cachar district has risen to four, Minister Kaushik Rai confirmed while addressing the media at the site. The Minister said the blast occurred at around 11.03 am on Sunday (July 26) and that the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined. He announced that the Assam Chief Minister has approved an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the family of each deceased worker.

Speaking to reporters, Rai said senior officials, including the Cachar Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, NDRF personnel and other authorities, were present at the site and that rescue operations began immediately after the incident. He said the four bodies had been recovered and sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination, adding that the reports were expected later in the day.

The Minister said multiple investigations had been ordered into the incident. He stated that the District Commissioner, the Assistant Labour Commissioner and the police would conduct separate enquiries to examine whether labour safety norms and other mandatory regulations were being followed at the factory. He also informed that a specialised team from Guwahati would visit the site to determine what chemicals were being used and the exact reason behind the explosion.

Rai said Cachar’s Guardian Minister Krishnendu Paul and local MLA Rajdeep Goala, who is currently attending the Assembly session in Guwahati, had been regularly monitoring the situation and were in touch with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He added that the MLA is expected to reach Cachar on Monday.

Responding to allegations by protesters that fatal accidents had occurred at the factory in the past but were allegedly kept hidden, the Minister said the authorities could not comment on such claims without evidence. He said if any previous explosions or deaths had taken place and were concealed, those incidents should have come to the notice of the authorities, and the matter would have to be examined through the investigation.

The explosion took place at a rod manufacturing factory whose entrance displays the names Kade Global Infrastructure LLP and IIRD Casting Works LLP. The cause of the blast has not yet been officially established, and investigations are underway.