2 killed, 21 injured in Malerkotla paper mill blast

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 22

Two people were killed and 21 others were injured in a blast in a dryer at a paper mill at Malerkotla in Sangrur district on Monday.

The injured factory workers have been rushed to different hospitals. Malerkotla Sub-Divisional Magistrate and police officials visited the site and inspected the spot.

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The blast in the dryer, which is used to dry paper, took place at around 11 am, DSP (Amargarh) Gurmit Singh said.

Two workers died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries in a hospital, he said.

Out of the injured, six were admitted to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala and ESIC Hospital in Ludhiana. The rest of the injured, who have been admitted to civil hospital in Malerkotla, are out of danger, the DSP said.

With the blast, the roof of the mill and machinery also got damaged, police said, adding investigations are underway to ascertain the reason behind the blast. With agency inputs