Ramgarh: An inquiry by Ramgarh administration has found serious fire safety lapses and alleged negligence by the management of the private steel factory, where a furnace blast on Aug 9 killed one worker and injured two.Officials said on Tuesday that the report, submitted through SDO Krishna Murari Tirkey, found that the furnace area lacked basic fire safety and emergency response equipment. Fire extinguishers were defective and none was installed near the electrical panel board, while the unit was allegedly operating in violation of prescribed safety norms.Deputy commissioner Rituraj directed the factory inspector to initiate legal proceedings against the management for “gross negligence”. A chargesheet has been filed before the chief judicial magistrate, the administration said. Production and other operations at the factory have also been suspended under industrial safety regulations.The DC said officials had been asked to inspect all industrial units in the district within a month, verify compliance, act against violators and submit a detailed report.The findings came amid concern over three industrial explosions in Ramgarh in four months that have killed nine people, including three engineers.Former Union minister and ex-Hazaribag MP Jayant Sinha on Monday questioned the state govt and district administration over industrial safety enforcement. Five workers were killed and four injured in a furnace explosion at Hesla village on April 6. The Aug 9 blast at Murpa village claimed one life, while three engineers died and another was critically injured in a turbine explosion at a captive power plant in Hehal village on Aug 21.Sinha demanded publication of the inquiry report into the April accident, accountability for lapses and safety audits of all factories. Former Ramgarh MLA Shankar Choudhary alleged workers were being made to work in unsafe conditions. Officials said the Hehal blast probe was under way.
