At least 13 people were killed and 20 injured in a chemical factory in India’s Uttar Pradesh.
Around 33 people were working at the factory during the fire at Harpur late on Saturday, reports UP-based media outlet IndiaTV.
The accident happened after a boiler burst at an industrial facility in Dhaulana, around 60 kilometres from New Delhi, police spokesman Surendra Singh told Reuters.
It took three hours for the firefighters to douse the flames, according to an NDTV report.
Meanwhile, a victim of the incident claimed that the gunpowder used to manufacture toy gun pallets is likely the reason behind the blast
According to Hapur Superintendent of police Deepak Bhuker, they were informed of a broiler burst but on reaching the spot no signs of a broiler explosion was found.
He told IndiaTV that the cause of the explosion maybe ascertained after the forensic results come back.
Plastic pellets used in toy guns were recovered from the spot.
"The gunpowder suddenly exploded. No one understood how the blast happened," a victim’s sister told IndiaTV.
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She added that there were nine other people of her family (along with the victim) in the factory at the time of the blast, of which, two were killed.
"Due to high heat, the gunpowder might have exploded," she said.
She said that the workers at the factory were paid a wage of Rs 8,000-9,000.
Meanwhile, Hapur District Magistrate Medha Roopam said that the factory was originally given the licence to manufacture electronic items.
“It is now a matter of probe what exactly was going on here. This is a sad incident. Forensic teams have reached here and are collecting samples," she added.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have already an FIR under four sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The sections are--- 286 (Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 287 (Negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 304 (culpable homicide), 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (negligence endangering human life), and 338 (grievous hurt by an act which endangers human life) of the.
