Fire at Baddi perfume unit: 4 bodies recovered amid search for missing people; 1 arrested even as Himachal govt sets up SIT

The police have arrested Chander Sekhar who supervises the functioning of the plant located in Jharmajri village in the Baddi industrial area on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. More arrests will be made after further investigation, they added.

“The recovered bodies are beyond recognition. They were found together in a washroom,” a source said. A senior officer added, “The bodies will be identified after collecting the DNA samples of the kin of the 13 missing people. Most of the missing individuals are women.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Solan Deputy Commissioner Man Mohan Sharma shared, “The fire was controlled but it is too risky to enter the complex. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is already present. A search is on to locate the missing people. One casualty has been reported, while the 30 others injured are stable.”

“We have started distributing ex-gratia assistance to the victims. An FIR has been registered against the management of NR Aroma company. The company’s owner is a Gujarat-based businessman,” the DC added.

The FIR was registered under sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

“The Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The SIT will include Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Verma, Deputy Superintendent of Police Khazana Ram and the Station House Officer (Barotiwala) Sub-Inspector Sanjay Sharma,” a police officer said.

As per the investigation, 85 people were in the factory at the time of the fire. The 30 injured have been admitted to various hospitals, while a woman was brought dead to PGI Hospital.

The NDRF is currently assessing the structural safety of the site and working to clear it of hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide. Following the clearance, a forensic team will conduct a spot inspection and collect necessary evidence.

The DGP has requested the state government for assistance from the Central Forensic Science team. The Himachal Pradesh Police, meanwhile, urged citizens to share any information related to the incident with Ashok Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police at 98169 99000.