Death toll in Kanpur mattress factory fire rises to six; 2 arrested

KANPUR: The death toll in Saturday's fire incident at the mattress manufacturing factory in Rania industrial area of Kanpur (Rural) has gone up to six.
Kanpur (Rural) superintendent of police BBGTS Murthy said that an FIR had been lodged against four persons of the factory, and two of them had been arrested.
"A case was registered on the complaint by fire officer Krishan Kumar against director Reena Agarwal, her spouse Ajay Agarwal and their sons Shashank and Shishir – under sections 106 (1) (negligent act causing death of any person), 125 (b) (act endangering human life) and 287 (act with fire or any inflammable substance endangering human life) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," the SP said.
"Shashank and Shishir, residents of Tilaknagar in Kanpur, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody," he said.
Kanpur Dehat district magistrate Alok Singh said an investigation would be conducted into the incident. "The factory management is assisting the victims. Help will be provided according to regulations at the administrative level," he added.
The fire broke out around 6am on Saturday apparently due to a gas leak in the LPG unit. The explosion caused by gas cylinders led to the collapse of the factory's roof.
At least 10 workers were trapped in the factory at the time of the incident. Bodies of three workers, Manoj (18), Lavkush (19), and Priyanshu (19), were recovered from the factory.
Seven workers – Vishal (20), Ajit (16), Surendra (22), Rohit (22), Shivam (19), Ravi (24), and Amit (19) – were admitted to the hospital of whom Amit, Vishal and Ajit succumbed on Sunday.