‘Gross negligence, mismanagement by officials’: Boiler expert dies in Ludhiana Verka milk plant blast, 5 injured

Gurbinder Singh, a former director of the plant alleged that the unit where the blast took place was being run without necessary safety checks. He further alleged that a private firm allotted the tender to renovate the unit failed to complete the work even after five years.

Sub-inspector Aditya Sharma, SHO, Sarabha Nagar police station, said that the blast took place in the air heater of the boiler unit. Six workers were present at the spot.

“One of them, identified as Kunal Jain, was seriously injured. He was taken to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) but succumbed to the injuries. Five others are undergoing treatment,” said the SHO. The five injured were identified as Ajit Singh, Puneet Kumar, Kulwant Singh, Davinder Singh Lalton and Gurtej Singh, all from Ludhiana.

Protesters gathered at the main gate of the milk plant. (Express photo)

Jain, 43, was a resident of Haqiqat Nagar, Haibowal area. He was in incharge of the air heater section of the plant, said SHO.

Jain’s family claimed that he had completed his duty during the day time but had gone back to plant in the night following repeated calls to report to work.

The Verka brand is owned by the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (MILKFED). Apart from fresh packet milk, the plant manufactures a wide range of fresh dairy products including paneer, curd, ghee, butter, sweets etc.

“Private company failed to complete work even in 5 years”

Sources in the plant said that a Haryana-based private company was handed over the contract to renovate the milk powder manufacturing unit. The tender was allotted in 2020 for Rs 11 crore.

Gurbinder Singh, a former director of the Verka plant, who was suspended last year, claimed that he along with two other directors of the plant, was suspended for “speaking against the private firm”.

“The company was given the contract for renovation of the milk powder unit in 2020 but even after five years they have not completed the work and the unit has not been handed over to the plant authorities as per tender’s terms and conditions. The contract was for Rs 11 crore but despite the work not being complete, their full and final payment has been done. The unit was running without necessary safety checks,” said Gurbinder Singh, adding that the blast happened due to the “negligence of the officials and substandard material” used in the unit.

Gurbinder, whose plea against suspension is sub-judice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said he and two other directors were suspended as they opposed the release of payment to the private firm.

Contacted, Daljit Singh, general manager, Verka milk plant, Ludhiana, said: “It has been a month only that I have joined. I am not fully aware of old and pending works, but the plant is fully functional. The blast is an unfortunate incident”.

Another employee of the Verka said: “The unit should not have been operated even for a trial run till the work wasn’t finished. The company was supposed to finish the work in four months but it failed to do even in five years.”

“Called for work even after completing day shift”

Meanwhile, the colleagues of the deceased gathered outside the main gate of the plant Thursday, and demanded adequate compensation and a government job for his family.

Jain’s son Sarthak Jain said: “Papa had already completed his duty in the daytime as it was Vishwakarma Day. He again went at night after he got repeated calls to report for work”.

Chhavi, sister-in-law of the deceased, said: “Kunal had already completed his day shift till 5 pm. Later he went to attend a birthday party. He was sitting among his friends when he got repeated calls to report for work to give a trial run to the unit. He went and the blast happened.”

SHO Sharma said that it was being probed as to why workers were present in the plant on Vishwakarma Day, a day when factories and manufacturing units with machinery usually remain shut.

General manager Daljit Singh, however, said, “Milk plants don’t stop functioning even on Vishwakarma Day. We work 24×7. All workers were on official duty when the incident happened. We had resumed work after completing Vishwakarma Day rituals”.

The SHO said that the family has been asked to record their statements to get the FIR registered but they were unwilling and were in talks with the plant management. “The family is holding talks with the plant officials and want adequate compensation and a government job,” said the SHO.

The deceased is survived by father, wife and two children- a son and a daughter.

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