CM condoles workers' death; Firhad, Suvendu to visit victims' families in Malda

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed her condolences to the families of those 10 persons who died in an explosion inside a carpet factory in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district near Varanasi. Nine of those dead hail from Bengal's Malda district.

"My condolences to the families of the 10 people killed in Varanasi. 9 of those who lost their lives in this tragedy are from Malda. Police team from Bengal helping to bring back bodies & provide assistance. Bengal ministers Suvendu and Firhad with others on their way to Malda," Banerjee tweeted soon after the incident.

The Chief Minister called up state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister and Mayor Firhad Hakim and instructed him to visit the affected families in Malda.

"Our government will stand by the families of the deceased and all possible assistance will be provided. I am rushing to Malda under the instructions of the Chief Minister," Hakim told reporters at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation before leaving for Malda. State Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari will also be visiting the families of the deceased along with Hakim.

According to police sources, those who died are residents of Enayetpur in Malda. They have been identified as Ataur Momin, Abdul Gaffar, Mohammad Subhan Ansari, Ishrafil Momin, Abdul Kalam Momin, Alamgir Momin, Azad Momin, Abdul Qadir and Mosawar.

It is learnt that the front portion of the factory was being used to manufacture crackers and as per preliminary investigation, the explosion took place due to the crackers that were stored up there. More labourers are suspected to be trapped under the debris. The rescue operation has started in full swing and the death toll may go up.