Odhav unit blast injures 23 workers

The blast at Balco Enterprises acirc;euro;rdquo; a weaving-machine spares maker in the Krishna Industrial Estate, Odhav acirc;euro;rdquo; happened about 3:30 p.m. The factory owners8217; father, Laljibhai Parmar, whose arms and chest were burnt in the blast, said that a liquefied petroleum gas LPG cylinder kept leaking gas even after the knob was shut off.

However, the fire brigade said that sparks generated while the spare parts were being made resulted in the explosion. They said the fire was not big, but injuries were caused mainly due to the blast.

The injured were rushed to Shardaben Hospital, and were provided immediate relief by hospital staff, headed superintendent Dr Ajit Dave. He told Newsline that all the workers had burn injuries as the explosion was big.

However, he said the doctors and para-medical staff had paid immediate attention to the injured workers. They made full use of the supply of ointments and bandages at the well-equipped burn unit of the hospital.

8220;The condition of the workers is out of danger8221;, he assured.

Till 5 p.m., Odhav police was not aware of the incident as local factory owners, who had gathered at the site had informed fire brigade and municipal authorities first at around 3:40 p.m.

Odhav police station inspector S.U. Pandey reached the spot around 6 p.m. and registered a case. He said that the factory was owned by Vijay and Alpesh Panchal. However, their father Laljibhai was among the injured and was admitted to the hospital with other workers.

Laljibhai, who received burn injuries on the chest and both hands told Newsline that the gas cylinder exploded only because of leakage. The knob of the gas cylinder was in fact closed.

He said it had been leaking gas even after the knob was completely closed. He was consoled by some other factory workers and the hospital staff.

One of the injured, who could hardly speak, said that the impact of the explosion was very big.

8220;I lost consciousness immediately after the blast and could only recall the cries made by my fellow workers after the blast. I woke up only in the hospital,8221; he fumbled. Almost all the patients were in deep shock and could hardly spell out anything about the incident. The names of the patients injured were not available.

After receiving the information, deputy mayor Manjulaben Patel rushed to the hospital and consoled the injured workers. Later in the evening Mayor Joitaram Patel and standing committee chairman Dharmendra Shah visited the hospital and ensured all possible help to the patients.