New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding the death of workers and injuries to several others in an explosion at a factory situated in the Urla industrial area of Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district.

Observing that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the victims’ human rights, the apex human rights body has issued notices to the Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The NHRC said the report is expected to include the current health status of the injured workers and details of any compensation paid to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons.

According to Press reports, at least three workers died and several others were injured in the explosion at the factory on June 7.

The explosion was allegedly caused due to the bursting of an oxygen cylinder in the factory.

The injured workers were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment and the factory was subsequently closed, according to the media report carried on July 8.

In a separate matter, the NHRC has also taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding a snake bite incident involving four girl students at the hostel of a higher secondary residential school in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district, resulting in the death of one student.

The apex human rights body has issued a notice to the Jharkhand Chief Secretary, calling for a detailed report within two weeks.

The NHRC said the report is expected to include the current health status of the injured students.

According to the media report, four girl students were bitten by a snake in the hostel on July 7 while they were sleeping after dinner in a ground floor room.

One of the students died, while the other three are undergoing medical treatment.

The NHRC observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students.

According to the media report, the condition of one of the injured students is critical and she has been referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, for specialised treatment.

–IANS

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