Three dead, two hurt in Khureji bakery oven blast; no arrest made

According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Zainul, Sajid and Lifakat, all in their early twenties, while Nazr-e Alam and Afsar were injured in the incident. 

The police said seven workers were present at the bakery’s manufacturing unit on the first floor when the incident took place. The police said the victims were  rushed to the Hedgewar Hospital, where three were declared brought dead.

According to officials at the fire department, they received a call about a blast on the bakery’s the first floor around 5:40 am. Four to five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the situation.

According to the police, the bakery is located in Aflatoon Market in Khureji. The bakery shop is located on the ground floor, while the bread and rusk manufacturing unit is on the first floor. The oven that exploded was kept on the first floor. The injured workers told the police that they had informed the bakery owner about overheating of the oven on Wednesday. But the bakery owner ignored their warning and continued the operation, the victims alleged.

They told the police that usually around 20 people work at the manufacturing unit at a time. But since it was early morning, only seven workers were present in the bakery. Eyewitnesses told the police that the explosion was so loud that window panes of adjoining buildings broke.

According to the police, the deceased were natives of Farukhabad in UP. The police said preliminary investigation indicated that oven blast led to the incident. However, they are yet to ascertain the exact cause behind the explosion. A police official, investigating the case, said forensic teams had already collected evidence from the spot. 

“Based on a victim’s statement, a case under Sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) , 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered against the bakery owner at the Jagatpuri police station,” said Rishi Pal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East).