Hyderabad: A labourer was killed and two others were injured in a blast at an illegal chemical factory at Hayathnagar early on Tuesday. Although workers ran out of the unit seeing signs of an explosion, an iron rod flew into the air and hit a worker on the head killing him instantly.
The police and the inspector of factories found the factory was run illegally without a licence. The police has booked a case against factory owner B. Laxman Goud for culpable homicide. The factory has also been sealed by the police.
The explosion occurred at Sripriya Chemicals, where nitro compounds were being produced for other chemical companies. At around 5 am three workers, including an operator, were running the reactor. “Due to excess heat fumes started coming out. The workers realised that it will explode and they ran out.
The reactor then exploded flinging its contents into the air. An iron rod shot into the air and hit a worker on the head. He died on the spot. Two others suffered minor injuries,” said inspector J. Narender Goud of Hayathnagar.
The dead man was identified as Shivchand B., 30, from Bihar. He was working as a labourer. Police found the factory was closed by the inspector of factories a year ago. But the owner reopened it without permission from authorities.
Officials found the factory had zero safety measures although explosive materials were produced there.
