look news india
Once again heart-wrenching news has emerged from Ramgarh district, which is known as the industrial hub of Jharkhand. Suddenly a massive blast occurred in a furnace (iron melting furnace) in a major steel plant in Ramgarh. In this tragic accident, four laborers were seriously burnt, out of which the condition of one laborer is very critical. Immediately after the incident, an atmosphere of chaos was established in the factory premises and amidst the chaos, all the injured were hurriedly taken to the nearest hospital for treatment by the co-workers and the management.
Local administrative and police officials immediately reached the spot and started investigation. Such accidents happening repeatedly in the steel and sponge iron plants of Ramgarh have once again raised serious question marks on the industrial safety standards and the safety arrangements of workers. As a reporter, when we look at the ground reality, it becomes clear how neglect of safety equipment is costing the lives of poor workers.
According to eyewitnesses and co-workers, the accident occurred when the process of melting iron was going on in the furnace. Suddenly there was a loud explosion and molten iron splattered out of the furnace in a terrifying manner and fell on the workers working outside. The explosion was so strong that within a few seconds smoke and flames spread throughout the shed.
Four workers got badly burnt due to the fire. Risking their lives, the colleagues somehow controlled the fire and pulled out the injured. Seeing the serious condition of the laborer, after first aid, the doctors referred him to RIMS or higher medical center in Ranchi for better treatment and skin grafting.
This is not the first incident of furnace blast in steel and sponge iron factories located in Kuju, Sirka and Argada industrial corridors of Ramgarh district. Even before this, due to technical faults, gas leakage and overheating, many workers have lost their lives or become disabled for life.
Local labor organizations and victim families have made serious allegations against the factory owners. He says that in the factories, neither are the workers given high quality fire-proof suits, safety helmets or boots, nor are technical safety audits of the furnaces conducted from time to time. Due to the laxity of the Labor Department and the Pollution Control Board, the factory management is continuously playing with the safety standards in order to earn profits.
As soon as information about the incident was received, the team of Ramgarh police station and district administration reached the spot and took stock of the situation. Police have sealed the concerned part of the factory and started investigating whether the blast occurred due to contact with water or moisture in the furnace or there was some other technical fault.
Administrative officials have assured that based on the investigation report, strict legal action will be taken against the guilty factory management under sections of labor laws and negligence. Along with this, instructions have been issued by the factory management to the affected workers to provide appropriate compensation and bear the entire cost of treatment.
Ramgarh district of Jharkhand is known throughout the country for its mineral resources and heavy industries, but the safety of thousands of daily wage laborers working here has always been at stake. This latest accident has once again proved that unless regular safety audits and AI-based sensor monitoring systems are made mandatory in factories, it will be impossible to prevent such fatal accidents.
Local residents and labor unions have demanded from the district administration that a thorough safety check of all the steel plants of Ramgarh should be conducted so that in future no other laborer has to lose his life in this manner.