Six teens were among Beed firecracker blast victims

Six of the seven girls killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Beed last Wednesday were teenagers.

Beed additional superintendent of police Subhash Mohekar said cases were registered, for engaging teenagers, under sections 304, 6(A1) and (B), 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code against the owner, manager and supervisor of Chandan Fireworks, at Ratnagiri phata, near Neknoor village, in Beed.

However, Neknoor police have recorded the ages of the deceased as Kanchan Gaikwad (12), Bhagyashree Sonavane (13), Pooja Ingole (16), Rani Shaikh (16), Rukhsana Shaikh (17), Rajshree Sonavane (17) and Reshma Ingole (17). Police superintendent Dr Suhas Varke said the ages would be verified. He clarified that the district collector’s office had granted a licence to the factory owner.

The police said on Tuesday that a team of explosives experts headed by SG Khillare and Dilip Pardesi found the factory had violated basic norms. Industrial Safety Department (Aurangabad) assistant director SB Kalekar also pointed out many shortcomings.

The police have arrested manager Shaikh Fazal Mohd Hussain and supervisor Ashok Shripati Ingole. Owner Shaikh Saleem Shaikh Shahnoor is absconding.

District collector Pankaj Kumar has ordered an inquiry, which will investigate how the owner engaged teens for dangerous work. Eight injured girls are being treated in hospitals here.

A compensation of Rs1 lakh to the nearest kin of the deceased and Rs50,000 to each injured will be given by the state government.