One person was killed and another was critically injured on Wednesday in a blast at a matchbox-making factory in Bathinda district.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh ordered a detailed inquiry to ascertain the cause of the blast which took place at around 11.30 am at the factory in Industrial Growth Centre on Mansa road.
The police said that the reason for the explosion was yet to be ascertained. The officials said that the raw material for making matchboxes has been lying there for the last two years.
Chief Minister has also announced ex-gratia of Rs three lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. A junk dealer, identified as Harish Kumar, died in the blast, while Raj Kumar has been admitted to the hospital.
The Chief Minister has also directed Bathinda Deputy Commissioner to ensure the best possible treatment, free of cost, to the injured and a thorough probe into the incident.
On the Chief Minister’s directives, Bathinda Deputy Commissioner has entrusted the task of enquiry to Additional District Magistrate.
Capt Amarinder has asked the Deputy Commissioner to ensure a thorough probe into the incident to ascertain the cause of explosion and suggest remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
The Chief Minister has also extended his sympathies to the families of the victims.