Central forensic science team inspects gutted perfume factory site in Barotiwala

Ambika Sharma

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Solan, February 6

A team of Central forensic science experts today inspected the gutted Jharmajri-based perfume manufacturing unit in Barotiwala and lifted samples for lab analysis.

Notably, the police department had requested the Central forensic science experts to examine the accident spot in view of the complex nature of the fire.

The police, meanwhile, sought information about the approvals taken by the ill-fated unit from various departments like Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority, Town and Country Planning, Industries, Central Taxes and Excise, Drugs Control Administration (DCA), State Pollution Control Board, Labour, Power, etc. Information about its license, products it manufactured, raw material used, storage area, etc, was sought.

According to the registration done with the Industries Department it manufactured apparel perfume. “Apparel perfume product did not fall under the purview of cosmetics and required no license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. No such license has been sought by the NR Aromas from the department,” informed Acting State Drugs Controller, Manish Kapoor.

As per the consent to operate obtained by the said unit from the State Pollution Control Board, the product manufactured here was mentioned as industrial perfumes. It used raw materials like phenyl ethyl alcohol, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, iso propyl palmitate, amy salicylate, Diethyl Phthalate, etc. The alcohols are inflammable and require careful handling according to forensic experts.

The unit had a valid consent to operate till March 2025. It was renewed on April 2020. The police had sought information about the inspections, if any, carried out by the staff of the State Pollution Control Board, while granting the consent besides information pertaining to the material used by the unit as well as its storage and disposal.

The Baddi police today associated the officials of the State Taxes and Excise Department for seeking their opinion on alcohol usage and storage by the unit in their manufacturing operations.

Meanwhile, families of missing workers today gave samples for conducting DNA analysis. They were also asked to identify one body, which could not be recognised as it was charred beyond recognition. Since some body parts were found inside the gutted unit by the police, they had advised the kin to give samples for conducting DNA analysis to match the mortal remains. Since the unit was ablaze for nearly eight hours the police suspects there was little likelihood of more bodies being found.

DNA samples collected

• Families of missing workers on Tuesday gave samples for conducting DNA analysis. They were also asked to identify one body, which could not be recognised as it was charred beyond recognition
• Some body parts were found inside the gutted unit by the police. Kin were asked to give samples for conducting DNA analysis to match the mortal remains
• As the unit was ablaze for nearly eight hours, the police suspect there was little likelihood of more bodies being found