M A I N   N E W S

9 die in explosion

Ghaziabad, September 30
At least nine labourers were killed and 10 injured, three of them seriously, in an explosion believed to have been triggered by some explosive materials brought as scrap in a steel factory here.

The explosion occurred in Bhushan Steel Co. in the Sahibabad industrial area in Uttar Pradesh bordering New Delhi at around 3.30 pm when the scrap was being unloaded, police sources said.

While eight workers died on the spot, one succumbed to injuries in the nearby Narendra Mohan hospital, where 10 wounded labourers are admitted. The condition of three of them was stated to be serious, they said.

Soon after the blast, senior police officials rushed to the site and after an on-the-spot inspection said the blast could have been caused by some explosive material brought as scarp, but also did not rule out sabotage.

Inspector General of Police Mumtaz Ahmad, who visited the site, said “initial enquiry revealed that the blast took place due to some explosive materials, but could have been planted too. Nothing more could be said now.” — PTI