Baddi fire: Search for Champo Devi continues

Naresh Thakur

Chamba, February 5

On the fateful day when a massive fire tragedy struck NR Aroma at Barotiwala in Solan, Champo Devi had left for work half-an-hour early.

She wanted to order a cake to celebrate the birthday of her son, who turned 11 the same day. Champo had planned to throw a small party at the family’s rented accommodation and intended to return early for the celebrations.

She is now among the four women workers who are still missing in the devastating fire that has left many families distraught.

While Champo’s husband already worked in Baddi, she also moved there about three year’s back so that she could also earn for better future of their children.

The couple worked at different factories and have two children, an 11-year-old son and six-year-old

daughter who study in a local school in the industrial area. Sarvdyal who has been searching for his better half for the last three days is now losing hope.

“I don’t know if she is dead or alive. My six-year-old daughter is awaiting her mother to return home,” he says, trying to hold back his tears. A total of 85 workers were in the factory when the devastating fire broke out on Friday. Five workers lost their lives in the incident. One of the deceased remains unidentified.

Sarvdyal said he immediately rushed the spot after hearing the about the fire but there is no clue about Champo as of now.

“I also have to look after my mother whose mental health is not very good,” he said. Finding it hard to cope with the situation, Sarvdyal had sent his children to the village with a relative while he continued his search for missing wife.

He said his wife had confided to him the factory’s imminent closure within the next 15 days and hinted that she would search for another job.

He alleged the fire incident was orchestrated by the factory management and they deliberately closed the shutters of the premises when the fire spread resulting in the death of workers.

Meanwhile, the search for missing individuals is on. The police have arrested Chandu Chandrashekhar, the plant head of NR Aroma on charges of negligence.

He has been booked under Sections 285 (negligent conduct involving fire or combustible matter), 336 (acts endangering the life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing harm through acts endangering life or personal safety), and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Barotiwala police station.

The police urge the public to immediately contact the Police Control Room with any information regarding the whereabouts of the missing individuals.

A special investigation team (SIT) led by Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Verma has been formed while Solan Deputy Commissioner has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

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