6 Workers Killed, 4 Injured As Fire Breaks Out In Mattress Factory

• Six people have died and four others sustained severe burn degrees after a fire broke out at a mattress industry in Kanpur
• According to the police, the fire was caused by a short circuit which led to a gas cylinder explosion and the collapse of the factory roof
• Directors Reena Agarwal and her two sons, Shashank Garg, and Shishir Garg have been sued following the incident

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Kanpur – Residents of Rania are in mourning after a massive fire at a foam factory claimed six lives and left four others with severe burns.

Kanpur Dehat Superintendent of Police (SP) BBGTS Murthy reported that the fire at RP Poly Plast Pvt Ltd on Khanpur Khadana Road erupted on Saturday, September 21, due to a short circuit, leading to a gas cylinder explosion and the collapse of the factory roof.

Deccan Herald reported that firefighters entered the factory and rescued seven workers, who were promptly taken to the hospital.

“Their identities are not yet known. We have a list of workers who were inside the factory during the tragedy, and we are reaching out to their families,” said Circle Officer Akbarpur, Tanu Upadhyaya.

Who were the victims of Kanpur fire?

Tragically, three workers as identified as Amit (19), Ajit (16), and Vishal (20), who initially survived the accident died in the hospital.

Additionally, the charred bodies of three teenage workers have been recovered, but their identities have yet to be confirmed, according to Times of India.

Fire Officer (Mati) Krishan Kumar has filed an FIR at Rania police station against three directors: Reena Agarwal and her two sons, Shashank Garg and Shishir Garg.

They are being charged under sections 106 (1) (negligent act causing death), 125 (b) (any act endangering human life), and 287 (doing any act with fire or inflammable substances endangering human life) of the BNS.

No response has been made so far.

51 people killed as gas explodes in Iran

In other news, 51 people have been confirmed dead after methane gas exploded at Madanjoo coal mine in Iran.

20 people sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for urgent care.

The Iranian president conveyed his condolence and assured the country that the matter would be probed and addressed accordingly.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke