Seven others sustain injuries; Panel set up to probe the incident

Two persons who sustained injuries in an explosion at the Metal and Steel Factory (MSF) at Ishapore in North 24 Paraganas district died on Sunday. The explosion took place on Saturday at a 20-tonne furnace where steel is prepared. The MSF, controlled by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), is one of the main producers of raw material for military hardware.

“The two, Falguni Banerjee (37) and Bablu Majumdar (50), died at the Command Hospital in Kolkata,” MoD spokesperson Wing Commander S.S. Birdi said. Seven others also sustained minor injuries and were out of danger.

MSF authorities said they had set up a committee to probe the incident.

“We have instructed the committee to submit the report as soon as possible. The next of kin of the diseased will be awarded compensation as per MoD norms,” MSF spokesperson P.K. Behera told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Contradictory versions

However, contradictory versions emerged from the MoD and MSF authorities over the incident. According to MSF authorities, it is “not an explosion but an instance of splashing of liquid metal.” Mr. Behera said the “accident occurred when liquid metal was being shifted.”

The 145-year-old factory was set up in 1872 as part of the Gun and Shell Factory at Cossipore (Kasipur) in North Kolkata which was then known as the Foundry and Shell Factory.