In a recent tragic moment, goods worth more than Rs. 100 crores were reportedly gutted after the fire engulfed a textile mill, run by the National Textile Corporation (NTC), in Bhopal, India. No loss of life was reported post-accident.
As per media reports, short-circuit led to the massive fire explosion at the mill located near Bhopal Railway Station on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. More than 50 fire tenders were deployed to douse the flame. It took them 10 long hours to get it under control.
Workers, who were working inside the mill at the time of incident initially tried to douse the flames with the help of fire extinguishers installed there but they found it non-functional. According to Vinod Riccharia, General Secretary of Kapda Mill Workers Federation, safety equipment installed in premise have not undergone a Safety Test since 2013.
Inadequate arrangements for fire control in the mill campus shows authority’s apathy towards workers of the mill.
Safety of workers at textile mills not only India but across the globe has been a matter of serious concern. Bangladesh, favourite among global brands as their manufacturing hub, witnesses such constant incidents which have affected the world’s second-largest readymade garments exporter’s reputation.
India also needs to keep a regular check on such accidents as the global buyers take compliance issue very seriously while sourcing apparels from any given destination.
