Death Toll in Aether Industries fire rises to 9, NHRC Takes Action

Surat : The devastating fire that engulfed Aether Industries Limited at Sachin GIDC, Surat, has claimed its 9th victim.

A 40-year-old worker, Pramod Madari Gautam, succumbed to injuries at a private hospital on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to nine. Gautam, a native of Bihar, was undergoing treatment at Apple Hospital near Darwaza area in Surat after the tragic incident.

The fire, sparked by a leakage of highly flammable chemicals and subsequent blast in a chemical storage tank on the night of November 28, wreaked havoc within Aether Industries. The blaze left 24 workers severely burned, while rescue teams recovered the charred remains of seven workers from the site.

Sadly, a worker from an adjacent textile unit also succumbed to severe injuries on December 2, further adding to the death toll.

Reports indicate that around nine workers with extensive burn injuries ranging from 80% to 100% are in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll may continue to rise in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken note of the tragic incident, initially reported as claiming seven lives and injuring 24 at Aether Industries in Surat. The NHRC has expressed concerns over potential negligence on the part of the factory management, prompting a call for investigation into possible human rights violations.

Consequently, the NHRC has issued notices to Gujarat’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, seeking a detailed report within four weeks. The Commission aims to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, emphasizing the importance of investigating possible lapses in safety protocols that could have led to this tragic loss of life.