At least four industrial workers were killed and several others critically injured following a high-intensity gas cylinder explosion at a TMT bar manufacturing unit in the Pangram area under Udharbond Police Station in Cachar district on Sunday morning.
The impact of the blast, which occurred around 11:30 AM during active operations, caused a partial collapse of the facility, trapping multiple laborers under heavy debris. First responders and emergency personnel have recovered four bodies from the site, while the injured were immediately rushed to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for treatment.
Escalating Tensions and Protests at the Site
Following the incident, chaotic scenes erupted outside the industrial facility as grieving family members, co-workers, and local residents gathered in protest. Accusing the factory management of severe safety oversights and inadequate protective measures, angry crowds blocked the primary gates, leading to heated altercations between locals and management personnel.
Demonstrators demanded an immediate shutdown of the industrial unit, alleging that placing high-risk operations near populated residential zones poses an ongoing public safety hazard.
High-Level Security and Administrative Response
To prevent the situation from deteriorating further, senior administration and law enforcement officials, including Cachar’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), arrived at Pangram to oversee security and engage with the aggrieved community.
Due to volatile conditions at the main entrance, authorities deployed additional personnel from Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to maintain order and secure the perimeter. A Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory (MFSL) unit arrived at the scene shortly after to gather chemical samples and physical evidence to determine the exact mechanics of the explosion.
Corporate and Administrative Investigation
The industrial plant, linked to Mumbai-based infrastructure firm Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd. (Sterling House, Marine Lines, Mumbai), was engaged in heavy TMT steel rebar processing.
District authorities confirmed that search-and-rescue operations inside the facility remain active to locate any workers who may still be unaccounted for. A formal inquiry has been ordered to review the plant’s statutory safety certifications, industrial pressure vessel compliance, and emergency protocols.
