Sitapur chemical unit flouted norms

Lucknow: The chemical factory in Sitapur where a poisonous gas leak killed seven persons was operating in violation of norms, police said.
“Preliminary probe has revealed that hydrochloric acid and sulphur peroxide stored in the factory probably came in contact with air and turned toxic. It spread in the area, leading to the death of seven persons in an adjacent carpet factory,” said CO Biswan Mohammed Taurik Ahmad.“Prima facie it seems that chemicals were not treated in Balaji Chemical Factory before being discharged. This was against the government norms on dumping of hazardous waste,” said DIG Sitapur range LR Kumar. The factory was issued a license for a godown but it had been manufacturing floor cleaners for the past five years,” he added.
“We are checking whether gas leak was an accident or a sabotage. The factory owner Sukesh Gupta alias Pranav is being questioned about the source of raw materials and chemicals,” said Kumar.
The factory was also functioning with the NOC from the pollution board, DM Sitapur Akhilesh Tiwari told TOI. “It is mandatory for factories to follow norms of the state pollution control board. A committee has been formed to probe the source of chemical laden truck that was brought to the chemical factory,” said Tiwari. The companies which sent the chemicals to Balaji factory are in Kanpur and Lucknow and their owners will be grilled,” said CO Biswan. The victims’s autopsy reports stated death by asphyxiation. Their visceras have been sent for forensic analysis, police said.