Factory collapse incident recalls memories of major past tragedies in city

The latest tragedy of a factory collapse at Phase VIII, Focal Point, that cost the lives of three factory workers has recalled memories of city residents about past incidents that have also claimed several lives.

The industrial hub has witnessed several incidents, mostly in industrial establishments in the past, killing industrial workers in a large number. In most of the incidents, the negligence of factory owners became the cause of major accidents. However, the authorities have not learnt any lessons to prevent such incidents in the future. Interestingly, some of the industrial mishap cases claiming deaths of workers could not reach the police as unit owners had reached a compromise with kin of the deceased.

Whenever any incident occurs due to the negligence of the industrial units, the officials concerned would take strict action in the form of registration of FIRs and vow to enforce the implementation of laws mandating safety measures, including fire safety, building safety, but nothing would happen on the ground.

Incidents occurred in past

On November 20, 2017, a multi-storey building of Amarson Polymers, also known as Gola Factory, at Suffian Chowk, had collapsed after an inferno in which as many as 16 persons, including nine firefighters, had lost their lives. The then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered a probe into the matter. The authorities even ordered a fire audit of the industries but years went on but nothing happened on the ground and incidents kept on happening.

On March 13, 2023, three workers were killed in a major fire that broke out in a three-storey factory near Lakkar Bridge. Almost 12 workers were working in the factory when the fire started. While the workers tried to rush out of the factory, five of them got stuck inside. It was only when fire tenders reached the scene, they were taken out by firefighters in critical conditions.

On April 30, 2023, eleven persons, including three children, died allegedly after inhaling toxic gas in the city’s thickly-populated Giaspura area.The incident came to light when some people who came to a local grocery store to buy milk started fainting. Four persons died on the spot while others were rushed to a hospital. Among the dead were three members of the family that owned the store and five from another family. Five females and six males were among the dead.

On October 1, 2018, four workers died as a fire broke out at a hosiery factory in Kalyan Nagar. The workers died of asphyxiation as they could not find the exit door. Even the main shutter of the factory was locked by the owner from outside. There was a gross negligence by the factory owner as exit points were locked, following which the workers could not escape.