Pri eksploziji peči v tovarni za taljenje kovin blizu Chennaija je umrl 26-letni moški iz Biharja.

A 26-year-old man from Bihar died following a furnace explosion at a metal melting factory in the SIPCOT industrial park in Chennai's Tiruvallur district. The incident occurred around 10 am on Tuesday, according to local police. Nine other individuals sustained injuries, with four of them hailing from Bihar and the remaining five from Tamil Nadu. The victim succumbed to severe burns caused by the blast, which took place at a private facility operating within the industrial complex. Firefighters responded swiftly to the scene, deploying two fire engines to control the blaze. According to a senior fire department official, the flames were extinguished within an hour. The injured were transported to the district government hospital for medical attention. An investigating officer from the SIPCOT police station confirmed that the bodies of the deceased had been sent to the government hospital in Ponneri for an autopsy. A criminal case has been registered against the factory, and authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and announced financial assistance through the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. He directed that ₹2 lakh be allocated to the bereaved family. Additionally, ₹1 lakh was set aside for each of the three workers suffering from serious injuries, and ₹50,000 for the six employees with minor injuries. The chief minister also ordered that the victim’s remains be transported back to Bihar at government expense. Officials from several key departments, including revenue, police, labor welfare, and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, were instructed to visit the site and ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future. These steps reflect the administration’s commitment to addressing safety concerns in industrial zones. The incident has raised questions about workplace safety standards in manufacturing units located within industrial parks. While the exact cause of the furnace explosion remains under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that excessive heat might have played a role in triggering the blast. Authorities are examining whether proper safety protocols were followed at the time of the incident. Local residents and nearby factory workers have voiced concerns over the frequency of accidents in industrial areas. Some have called for stricter enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations. Others emphasized the need for regular inspections and better training programs for workers handling high-risk equipment. The factory owner has yet to make public statements regarding the incident. However, industry representatives have indicated that they will cooperate fully with the ongoing inquiry. They stressed the importance of identifying lapses in safety procedures to avoid similar tragedies in the future. As the investigation continues, officials are working to determine if there were any prior warnings or complaints about unsafe conditions at the factory. If negligence is found, legal action could follow. In the meantime, families of the victims are seeking clarity and justice, hoping that the incident will lead to systemic improvements in industrial safety practices across the region.