Rajasthan, February 16: At least 7 people burned to death in a fire that broke out in a chemical factory in the Bhiwadi area of Rajasthan’s Khairthal-Tijara district on Monday, officials said.
Seven bodies chared bodies were retrieved from the site.
Firefighting operations are underway. More details awaited.
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra urged the government and the administration to take immediate action on the matter, where he also pointed to an earlier similar accident in Ajmer, where 16 people were killed after a chemical tanker overturned.
He stated that such incidents have become common under the present government.
Preliminary estimates suggest that goods worth several lakhs of rupees were reduced to ashes. An assessment of the total loss is underway.
Police have initiated an investigation to determine whether the fire was caused by a short circuit or any other reason. Authorities have directed other industrial units in the area to review and comply with safety standards to prevent such incidents.
Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and issued instructions to the district administration to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the “tragic and deeply saddening” incident. “The fire mishap in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, is tragic and deeply saddening. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he said, according to a X post on the PMO handle.
“In the district of Khairthal-Tijara, in Bhiwadi, a chemical factory caught fire and killed 8-10 people. Many people have been injured. There has been heavy damage… The government and administration should take immediate action. After the formation of the government, as you have seen, on Ajmer Road, a chemical tanker was overturned. More than 16 people were killed. In Jaipur, in SMS, in ICU, people were burnt to death… This has become a common thing, but the government is not paying attention to this. This is a very serious matter,” Dotasara told ANI. (ANI)
