BREAKING NEWS

Six found dead in factory’s chemical tank in Korangi

Karachi

Six people were found dead in a chemical tank at a pickle factory near Dar-ul-Islam Cooperative Housing Society in Korangi on Sunday

The Korangi Industrial Area police identified them as Mehtab Aftab, the owner of the Aftab Pickle Factory, and his employees Sohail, Saleem, Imran Jatoi, Adnan Nawab and Rafiq. Aftab was 55 years old while the employees were between the ages of 35 and 45 years.

A witness told the police that one of the employees, Sohail, had accidentally fallen into the tank. The others tried to rescue him but fell into the tank themselves.

The Korangi Industrial Area SHO said the tank was around 20 feet deep and contained eight feet of water mixed with a chemical.

Shakib, a friend of the factory owner’s son-in-law, told The News that pickle-making was Aftab’s family business for years. He added that the tank contained a chemical used for tenderising pickle.

“The chemical’s fumes can make people feel dizzy and that’s what must have happened in this tragic incident.”The bodies of the six people were taken to the Jinnah hospital.

Seemin Jamali, the hospital’s joint executive director, said the six men’s clothes were soaked in a foul-smelling chemical. Besides, she added, there was frothy sputum exuding from their mouths and noses.

Jamali said a post-mortem examination had been conducted and samples of blood and clothing sent to a laboratory.

A police officer told The News there were 10 or 15 illegal pickle factories in the area. “We have informed the higher authorities about many times, but they haven’t taken any action so far,” he added.

Operating without licence

The Korangi deputy commissioner told The News that the factory had been set up inside a 400 square yards bungalow in a residential area and operating without a licence.

“After this tragic incident, I have ordered that a survey should be conducted so that illegal factories and warehouses in Dar-ul-Islam Society can be sealed,” Asif Jah Siddiqui added.

The official said Aftab, the owner of the factory, had never applied for a licence.

“We have sealed this factory now.”

He said the owners of illegal factories and warehouses were operating as a mafia and they had been given 15 days to shut down their businesses.

Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said he had sought a report on the incident and action would be taken against the officers concerned, if they were found guilty of negligence.

Some residents of Dar-ul-Islam Society told The News that illegal factories were being run in the area in connivance with the authorities.