Kolkata, February 18: Four children suffered severe burns after a chemical drum exploded in Canning, located in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district. The incident occurred on Wednesday while the children were playing near the roadside.
According to police sources, the explosion happened on Tuesday evening when the children, aged between eight and ten, were near a drum filled with chemicals. The blast resulted in serious injuries to the minors. One child, unable to endure the pain, jumped into a nearby pond. Three of the injured were subsequently admitted to MR Bangur Hospital in Kolkata.
Reports indicate that road repair work was ongoing on a seven-kilometer stretch from Ghatakpukur to Madhya Khargachhi in the Canning Purba assembly area. Local residents mentioned that the repair work had commenced a few days prior.
On Tuesday, a drum containing approximately 200 liters of light diesel oil (LDO) was left on the road. As the children played nearby, the drum suddenly exploded with a loud bang. The intensity of the blast severely burned one child, while the others also sustained injuries.
The injured children have been identified as Sadikul Mollah, Samiul Mollah, Raihan Mollah, and Riyaz Hasan Mollah, all students of the local Khargachhi Primary School. Following the accident, local residents quickly rescued them and took them to Nalumuri Rural Hospital. Due to their deteriorating condition, they were later transferred to MR Bangur Hospital in Kolkata, where Sadikul’s condition is reported to be critical.
Upon receiving news of the incident, Deputy Commissioner Saikat Ghosh of the Bhangar Police Division and Trinamool MLA Saikat Molla from Canning East arrived at the scene.
A senior officer from the Bhangar Police Division stated, “The police have initiated an investigation into the incident. The Kolkata Police’s bomb disposal team and forensic unit have also reached the site to determine the cause of the explosion.” Local residents are raising concerns about whether safety measures were implemented during the road repairs and why flammable materials were left on the open road.
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