Five bodies recovered from Ghola fire site

Kolkata: Bodies of five workers, who got trapped inside the plastic goods factory at Jugberia of Ghola in North 24-Parganas on 11 February, were recovered by the rescue team on Friday morning.

After carrying out a rigorous search operation the rescue team finally managed to trace the bodies. The other workers saved their lives by leaving the factory immediately while these five victims got trapped. Police have sent their bodies for the postmortem examination.

The workers have been identified as Munna Prasad, Paltu Duary, Nityananda Roy, Subhas Roy and Sanjeeb Padia. The fire brigade officials and the family members of the trapped victims have been conducting a search for past four days.

Initially, it was difficult for the fire personnel to enter into the factory due to excessive heat generated due to impact of the fire.

Despite the critical situation, a team comprising members of Disaster Management Group (DMG), fire brigade, police and civil administration went inside the factory but no bodies could be found as burnt debris was scattered everywhere.

The fire officials earlier hinted that chances of survival for the trapped labourers were negligible. Black smoke was billowing out as a result of which it was difficult for the fire officials. Forensic experts visited the factory and collected necessary samples. Locals alleged that a fire incident had earlier taken place at the same factory but the authorities did not bother to install firefighting and safety management systems even after that.

It may be mentioned that the state fire department

has lodged a complaint against the factory owners as it lacked adequate fire fighting mechanism.

The family members of the deceased also registered a separate complaint in the police station in this regard.

A day after the incident the State Finance minister and Khardah MLA Amit Mitra visited the plastic goods factory and stated that the government would take stringent action against the factory authorities for violating the fire safety and security management norms.

He also went to check the fire-fighting operations at the spot and also interacted with the family members of the labourers who were trapped inside the factory. Mitra told the local people that the government is with the victims and they will be compensated.

It has been alleged that the factory authorities did not cooperate with the firefighters. Several cracks had developed on the building's structure due to repeated bursting of LPG cylinders. Some local people fear that the factory might collapse at any moment.