KATHMANDU, APRIL 21
At least two people were killed and six suffered injuries in a blast that occurred at an oxygen plant in Patan Industrial Area, Lalitpur, at around 10:00am today.
Both the victims were Indian nationals who used to work as oxygen re-filler at Sagarmatha Oxygen Plant where the blast occurred. Brij Mohan Mahato, 45, died on the spot, whereas Raj Kumar Mahato, 25, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at B&B Hospital in Lalitpur.
Both hailed from Ratanopurwa in West Champaran district of Bihar in India.
Ramesh Adhikari, 43, of Parsa, Durga Puri, 36, and Sudip Timalsina, 19, of Lalitpur, Ishwor Bajagain, 22, and Aanjana Poudel, 20, of Okhaldhunga were among those injured.
They were rushed to Patan hospital.
Lalitpur Chief District Office Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, who reached the site within 15 minutes of the blast, told THT that the blast was so massive that many oxygen cylinders flew into residential buildings outside the industrial area.
Police are investigating the cause of the blast.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has formed a six-member probe committee led by Joint Secretary at the ministry Chandra Kala Paudel. It has been given a week to investigate and submit its report.
Minister Badu said the government would provide relief to bereaved families and medical treatment to those injured in the blast.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
