Nashik chemical unit fire yet to be doused even after 24 hours
Nashik (PTI): More than 24 hours after a fire broke out in a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Nashik district claiming two lives, efforts were still on to douse the flames, an official said on Monday.
Nearly 10 fire tenders were still at the spot, he said, adding that it will take some more time to completely put out the blaze.
The massive fire in Jindal Poly Films Pvt Ltd at Mundhegaon situated alongside Nashik-Mumbai national highway in Igatpuri taluka on Sunday morning was triggered after a blast in a boiler of the factory.
Two persons were killed and 17 others injured in the incident which took place at around 11.30 am on Sunday.
The blast was so powerful that it was heard in nearby villages. The fire and smoke could be seen from a distance. The incident occurred around 11.30 am, officials said.
The state government has decided to order a high-level probe to identify the exact cause of the fire.
"Though the fire has been controlled to a large extent, it is yet to be completely doused," a police official who was present at the spot told PTI.
"The fire on the upper floor has been put out, but the blaze at the ground level is still raging on as there are plastic granules which are catching fire," the official said.
Eight to ten fire tenders are still at the spot making efforts to douse the fire, he said.
Along with police, personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are busy in the operation, the official said.
"It will take some more time to completely douse the fire. The cooling operations may continue till evening as the smoke is still emanating," he added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday visited the accident site, located about 30 km from Nashik and 130 km from Mumbai. He also met the injured persons admitted to a hospital in Nashik.
The CM said the next of kin of each deceased will get Rs 5 lakh aid from the state government and the injured will get free medical treatment.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
