Explosion at Kolkata's junkyard kills 1 worker, critically injures another

A powerful explosion occurred early this morning at a junkyard located near Rabindra Bharati University on BT Road, Kolkata. The explosion took place during the process of cutting an old fuel tanker, resulting in the death of a worker named Sagar and critical injuries to another worker, named Shankar. The blast sent Sagar’s body flying about 50 meters, where it was found hanging from a tree. Shankar was found lying on the ground near the explosion site and was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

Residents living in the vicinity of the junkyard reported hearing the sound of twin explosions. They rushed to the scene from a distance of approximately 700 meters. The residents expressed their concerns about the risks associated with cutting fuel tankers in such a densely populated area. They also mentioned that similar fire incidents had occurred in the past when tankers were being cut. Sources familiar with the scrapyard’s operations confirmed that there were no safety measures in place at the site at the time of the explosion. Additionally, illegally stored cooking gas cylinders, which are not intended for use in cutting operations, were found in the yard. These cylinders may have contributed to the intensity of the explosion.

The scrapyard, which has been in operation for many years, deals with cutting old vehicles, including trucks and tankers, to recover metal for recycling. However, sources indicated that the junkyard lacked the necessary permits and safety measures required for such hazardous work. Local authorities had not taken any significant action to regulate the operations at the scrapyard, despite previous reports of fire incidents during similar operations. It is unclear how long the illegal storage of gas cylinders had been going on at the scrapyard.

Kakuli Sen, the councilor of Ward 2 in Kolkata Corporation, stated that the junkyard had been operating with permission from the corporation but was still involved in unsafe practices. She called for a thorough police investigation to uncover how the illegal business continued to function without proper oversight. Tarun Saha, councilor of Ward 5 and chairman of Ward 1, mentioned that the junkyard had been running for over 30 years, mainly cutting iron scrap from old vehicles. However, he noted that the dangerous practice of cutting gas cylinders might have been carried out secretly. He assured that the municipality would take immediate steps to stop such dangerous activities and ensure the safety of the local residents.