2 die, 3 injured in high-intensity blast at Mohali factory

Two people died and three were injured as a high-intensity blast rocked an oxygen-making unit in Industrial Area, Phase 9, Mohali, on Wednesday morning.

SDM Damandeep Kaur confirmed the casualties. The deceased have been identified as Asif, 28, and Devinder.

Cops did not rule out the possibility of gas leakage and vacated the nearby buildings.

Locals said the windows of the administration block and nearby buildings were shattered by the impact. Mutilated body parts were strewn at the blast site with oxygen cylinders lying around. Debris of the cylinders also fell at Kambala village, around 1 km away, locals said.

Police, fire tenders and ambulances were engaged in the relief work.

Around 25 employees were in the unit when the blast took place.

High Tech Gases Private Limited supplies medical oxygen to the PGI, Chandigarh, and other government hospitals in the region.