Five Indian nationals and two Nepalis were killed in the explosion at New Nepal brick factory at Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City-16. Two of the deceased are children.
Among the deceased, Salun Miyan, 13, Rahul Miyan, 16, Mithlesh Paswan, 35, Sadam Husen and Garib Narayan Paswan (ages unknown) are from Bihar. Likewise, Shiv Narayan Chaudhary, 20, and Bhagali Devi Chaudhary, 16, of Itahari have also been identified among the deceased, as per Area Police Office Pakali.
The condition of four of the 19 injured is said to be critical. They are undergoing treatment at Dharan- based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS).
The brick factory, where the chimney developed cracks during the April earthquake, had resumed operations after minor repairs.
According to the police, the blockage in the chimney led to the explosion. Immediately after the explosion, workers had run helter-skelter. A 125-ft part of the chimney fell and crushed the workers. Around 300 workers from Nepal and India were employed at the factory.
"All of a sudden there was a loud bang. The top section of the chimney broke apart and we ran for our lives," said Jina Pravin, a brick kiln worker.
Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel used excavators to dig up the wreckage. But no one crushed in the debris was found, according to the security personnel.
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