Two workers from Bihar working in a private aluminium factory in Hazaribagh died after a blast inside the factory on Friday afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as Ranjit Thakur, 45, a native of Berudih, Gaya and Suraj Dev Sao, 55, of Mithapur, Gaya district, Bihar.

The blast took place at around 1.30pm at Kumar Metal Works Aluminium Factory at Ward Number 33 in Sirsi under the Katkamdag police station of Hazaribagh district.

Local sources claim that it was lunch hours and the two workers were the only ones to be close to the boiler that blasted otherwise the casualty number would have been higher.

Sources also claim that the intensity of the blast was so strong that glass panes of neighbouring houses were also shattered and the asbestos roof of the factory has also been damaged. There were over 20 workers at the factory during the time of the explosion.

Local police immediately reached the spot and took possession of the bodies and sent them to Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital. The bodies were sent for post-mortem after they were declared as brought dead.

Hazaribagh deputy superintendent of police, headquarters, Rajeev Kumar said that two workers have died in the blast and no one else has been injured.

“Two persons have died in the blast on the factory premises and the administration is investigating the reason for the blast. Prima facie the blast took place at the boiler. However, things would be clear only after a detailed investigation into the incident,” said Rajeev.

Hazaribagh Sadar sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vidyabhusan Kumar said that a team comprising Katkamdag block development officer, circle officer, DSP headquarter and factory inspector from Giridih have visited the site of the incident and would be submitting a report.

“The administration will try to arrange compensation from the factory management to the deceased worker’s families as the incident took place inside the factory,” said Kumar.

According to the information received so far, aluminium utensils and other items were manufactured in the factory and a blast took place while the scrap materials being melted in the boiler exploded.