Two persons were killed following a blast in an explosives factory in Raipur area of Dehradun on Wednesday morning. This is the second such incident to have occurred at the factory, Narendra Explosives, within 18 months. Five persons had been killed in a similar incident on May 15 last year.

According to the district authorities, following a magisterial inquiry, the licence of the factory had been suspended last year and this had been followed by a technical inquiry conducted by the office of the Chief Controller of Explosives in Agra. Sources said the licence was, however, restored after the Dehradun-based ordnance depot filed a petition regarding a shortfall in supplies.

Following the latest incident, the Dehradun administration has once again initiated a move to cancel the licence. District Magistrate Dr Rakesh Kumar told The Indian Express, “I have decided to seal the premises and am writing to the Government to acquire the land for some other purpose. The lives of people cannot be put at risk and the factory cannot be allowed to operate here.”

Meanwhile, a magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident and an ex gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh has been ordered for the next of kin of the two deceased, Sanjit Thapa and Ranjan. The police have arrested four senior functionaries of the factory.

The opposition Congress party has sought a full-fledged judicial probe into the incident. Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana said, “How can the Government give clearance and allow an explosives factory to run at a place so close to human habitation and in the middle of four defence establishments? It shows the callous attitude of the Government towards the issue of security.”