In the early hours of Sunday, December 31, 2023, a tragic incident occurred at Sunshine Enterprises, a rubber hand glove factory in the Waluj Industrial Area near Aurangabad, now known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. A massive fire erupted around 2 a.m., resulting in the unfortunate loss of six lives and prompting concerns about industrial safety standards.
Upon receiving a call around 2 a.m., the fire department rushed to the scene. However, by the time they arrived, the factory was engulfed in flames. Six workers were reported to be trapped inside, and despite efforts to control the fire, they succumbed to suffocation rather than burn injuries, as revealed by post-mortem reports. The background of the incident indicates that approximately 15 workers, including a female and two minors, were present in the factory during the fire. Most workers managed to escape through the factory roof, but the six victims were unable to access the sole exit door due to the fire. The absence of alternative exit routes highlighted a significant lapse in safety measures.
While the actual cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the investigation revealed that safety norms were grossly ignored in the factory. Safety norms include the installation of fire extinguishers and other safety equipment, which, in the case of Sunshine Enterprises, was severely lacking. In addition to that, the absence of alternate exit doors not only cost the lives of six individuals but also raised questions about the brutal ignorance of safety regulations by the concerned entities. Among the six deceased, five hailed from Bihar, while one belonged to the Jalna district in Maharashtra. Their bodies were transported to their respective hometowns for the final rites. Legal action has been initiated against the factory owner, Saber Khan Pathan, and the labor contractor. In response to the tragedy, the Maharashtra Government announced compensation of Rs. 5 Lakh each for the families of the deceased.
This incident aligns with a similar one in the same month of 2023, where a fire at an illegal candle manufacturing unit in Jyotiba Nagar, Talawade, Maharashtra, claimed the lives of 14 workers. While six died on the spot, the remaining eight succumbed to injuries during treatment. The incident sparked public outrage and grief, emphasizing the need for stricter adherence to safety regulations and accountability for those responsible.
