Nagpur factory blast: Primary report indicates negligence, safety lapse by company, says minister

NAGPUR: (Mar 2) Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said prima facie there was "negligence" on the part of the Nagpur-based SBL Energy Limited, where a blast claimed 19 lives, and safety measures were not followed by the explosives manufacturer.

The company will give a compensation of Rs 75 lakh to the families of each of the deceased and Rs 25 lakh to the injured persons, the district guardian minister told reporters after a high-level meeting here in connection with the incident.

He also said that apart from the company, accountability will be fixed on officials of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) and the labour commissionerate, and if found guilty, cases will be registered against them.