East Champaran brick kiln explosion toll increases to 7

PATNA/MOTIHARI: With the death of one more person on Friday night, the toll in brick kiln explosion at Narirgir village under the Ramgarhwa police station area in East Champaran district has increased to seven. The victims included brick kiln owner Mohammad Irshad.
“Of the 10 injured persons, the condition of eight is stated to be serious. They are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Raxaul,” police said on Saturday.
Among the victims, three were residents of Uttar Pradesh and four hailed from East Champaran district,” a communique issued by the police headquarters said.
PM Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of the kin of each deceased.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a brick kiln in Motihari. Condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers with the injured. Ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF) to the next of kin of each deceased. “Expenses on the treatment of all injured persons will be borne by the state government. Necessary instructions have been issued to the health department for their proper treatment,” Nitish said on Saturday hours after the PM’s tweet.
The rescue operation, which was halted last night due to the darkness, was resumed on Saturday morning by a team of the State Disaster Response Force.
East Champaran DM Shirshat Kapil Ashok on Saturday visited the spot and ordered demolition of the total structure of brick kiln as it has developed cracks after blast.
He constituted a team comprising Raxaul SDM, labour commissioner and mines officer to conduct a detailed inquiry into the explosion and said strict action would be tajken against the guilty.
District labour superintendent Satya Prakash said a team of labour department is also working at the site but the workers are not ready to say anything.