Explosion in Malerkotla paper mill leaves 3 dead

Tribune News Service

Malerkotla, August 22

Three workers were killed and 19 sustained injuries when an explosion took place in a dryer at Vishal Paper Mill on the Malerkotla-Sangrur road here today.

The injured were rushed to the local Civil Hospital. Eight of them were referred to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

Malerkotla SP Gurpreet Singh Sikand, Amargarh DSP Gurmeet Singh, and Amargarh SHO Sanjiv Goyal reached the spot and also visited the hospital.

The SHO said Manu Kumar and Narinder Kumar died on the spot, while Prem Kumar who was referred to Patiala died succumbed to his injuries on the way.

The injured have been identified as Shamim, Mohammad Sabar, Salaudeen, Arafat Alam, Ranbir Singh, Pankaj and Lakhbir Singh (referred to Patiala hospital); and Sanju, Rajinder Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Mohammad Jahan, Nitish, Harwinder Singh, Lokinder Singh, Inderjit Singh, Amit, Khela Ram, Gurmail Singh and Jasmail Singh.

The SHO said the 12 injured persons admitted to the Civil Hospital told the police that the explosion took place due to a technical fault. He said the police were initiating proceedings on the basis of their statement.