Two die, four hurt in Mohali oxygen cylinder blast

Two youths died while four others sustained serious injuries as a high-intensity blast rocked an oxygen plant at the Industrial Area in Phase 9 here on Wednesday morning.

The deceased were identified as Lucknow native Mohammed Asif (25) and Davinder Kumar (27) of Gramsihari in UP, both employed at Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. Sarvesh (45), Ashok (44), Sachin (24) and Akbar Ali (50) were injured in the incident and rushed to the Phase 6 Civil Hospital.

The blast occurred around 9 am when approximately 25 workers had turned up for the morning shift and had just begun the loading and unloading of cylinders from trucks.

Oxygen cylinders exploded while being refilled, leaving two workers dead on the spot, and blowing off the roof of the shed. Locals said such was the impact of the explosion that the doors and windows of nearby buildings were also shattered. The explosion site bore a grim look with dismembered body parts, cylinders, broken furniture, and shards of glass strewn all over. The sound of explosions were heard at large distance from the spot. Local said debris of the cylinders fell far away.

Cops, fire tenders and ambulance were rushed to the spot for relief work.

Leakage from some cylinders could be seen after which cops vacated the nearby buildings as a precautionary measure.

The Deputy Director (Factories), later, visited the spot and initiated cooling of the cylinders — a process of checking cylinders.

Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said, “On the statement of the kin of the Kambala resident Akbar Ali, one of the injured employees of the firm, a case of death by negligence has been registered at the Phase 11 police station. The explosion took place during refilling. Further probe is on. The unit has suffered damages and is not operational for the time being.”

Hi-Tech Industries Ltd, owned by R Sachdeva, supplies industrial and medical oxygen to major government hospitals of the region.

Irate kin of the deceased blocked the way of the ambulance carrying the mortal remains. They complained that dismembered body parts were stuck to iron angles even hours after the blast.

Neetu, sister-in-law of Davinder, said, “He used to work in the 6 pm-6 am shift, but stayed to work overtime as he was promised Rs 200 extra.”

Former Health Minister and Punjab Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu has demanded an adequate compensation for the affected families from the government. He said, “They should be provided relief without any delay. The injured must be given free medical treatment.”

Prominent political party leaders of Mohali, including Mohali MLA’s son Sarabjit Singh Samana of AAP, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi of Congress, Sanjeev Vashisht of BJP and Paramjit Singh Kahlon of SAD, along with several industrialists reached the site to support the unit owner in time of need.