Walo patay at 80 ang nasaktan sa pagsabog sa pabrika ng paputok sa India
Rescue personnel and local residents gather near a firecracker plant following an explosion at Harda district in India’s Madhya Pradesh state on February 6, 2024. At least eight people died and 80 were injured on February 6, in a giant explosion at a firework factory in India that saw balls of flames soar into the sky, officials said. (Photo by Uma Shankar MISHRA / AFP)
Hindi bababa sa walo katao ang namatay at 80 naman ang nasaktan, sa malaking pagsabog sa isang pabrika ng paputok sa India.
Nakita sa footage sa Indian television ang isang tore ng apoy kasunod ng pagsabog sa pabrika ng paputok, kung saan dose-dosenang mga ambulansiya ang ipinadala at ipinatawag din ang army helicopters upang ilikas ang mga nasugatan.
Sinabi ni senior district police official Rajeshwari Mahobia, “There were ‘eight deaths so far and around 80 injured’ at the factory in Harda in Madhya Pradesh state, the death toll is likely to go up.”
Sabi naman ni Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, “Reports of the explosion were very sad news, medics at burn units in nearby major hospitals were called to make necessary preparations.”
Aniya, “Ambulances are being rushed to Harda from the surrounding areas, and the army has been contacted to arrange for helicopters.”
Hindi bababa sa 20 mga ambulansiya ang nagtungo sa pinangyarihan ng pagsabog, kung saan may 50 iba pang ipadadala upang tumulong sa mga nasaktan.
Ayon kay Manish Sharma, isang surgeon sa Harda district hospital, “The centre had been flooded with a stream of casualties. We have eight deaths at our hospital, a total of 90 people were admitted here so far and we have referred 15 of them to a bigger hospital. As more people are being rescued from the site, they are being brought here.”
Sinabi ni Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “I was distressed by the loss of lives. The government would give the families of those killed $2,400 each in compensation, and $600 to those injured.”
Sabi naman ni Kailash Chand Parte, isang senior district official na siyang nakikipag-coordinate sa rescue efforts sa pabrika, “Fire battling the fierce blaze. The fire is still not under control and we have around 15 fire engines and many rescue workers at the site.”
Aniya, nasa pagitan ng 200 at 300 katao ang nagtatrabaho sa pabrika, subalit hindi pa batid kung ilan ang nasa loob nang mangyari ang pagsabog.
Dagdag pa niya, “At least 10 buildings around the complex where the blast happened have been damaged because of the intensity of the explosion.”
Ayon naman sa local police officer na si Abdul Raeed Khan, na kabilang sa mga namatay ay yaong mga natapakan, habang nag-uunahan ang mga tao na makatakas sa sunog.
Aniya, “Some died during the ‘stampede after the blast,’ rescue teams were yet to reach the actual blast site as (the) fire is on.”
Ang mga pagsabog ay malimit na nangyayari sa mga pagawaan ng paputok sa India.
Lubhang popular ang mga paputok sa India, partikular sa panahon ng Hindu festival ng Diwali, at ginagamit din ito sa wedding celebrations.
Ngunit marami sa mga pabrika ang hindi nakasusunod sa basic safety requirements at nag-ooperate nang walang mga permit.
Noong 2019, hindi bababa sa 18 katao ang namatay sa pagsabog sa isang pabrika sa Batala sa Punjab state, sampung iba pa ang namatay din sa kaparehong taon sa Bhadohi sa Uttar Pradesh.
