Rahul, an 11 year old Indian from Bengal, had come to Nepal with his father and family members for earning a living for the family but on Tuesday his mother returned with his dead body from Itahari of Sunsari district. Rahul was one of the 8 dead in the blast at Naya Jay Nepal brick factory in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City-16, on Monday evening. 

 

“How will I live with this pain?” the deceased's mother, Hajime Bibi, said while bursting into tears over the dead body of her son. “I am returning with the body of my son, and injured husband,” she said adding that she did not know how she will be coping with the tragedy. Her husband Chhinar was also been injured in the blast. 

 

Like Hajime, Mandu Miyan also lost his 18-year-old son Salun. Mandu along with his son and elder daughter Mabina Bibi were working at the brick kiln. She expressed dejection at the lack of responsiveness from the owner of the brick factory. “Neither the owner nor any of his representatives came to us for offering condolences and assistance,” Mandu said. 

 

Of the total deceased, six were Indian nationals and two were Nepalis. Along with 19 were injured in the incident. The deceased families are preparing their return with the bodies of their kin. “We'll never get back here for work after returning to our home in Bengal,” said Sasto Miyan who said that they were waiting to receive the dead bodies.  

 

Out of total workers, 150 workers employed at Naya Jay Nepal brick kiln were from Bengal alone. 

 

It is learnt that the factory agreed to transport the bodies to the deceased family in India, and provide free treatment to the injured. The injured have been receiving treatment at the Dharan- based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). Out of 19 injured, six have been discharged from the hospital. 

 

Though, local administration is yet to conclude the cause of the blast, locals claimed that the blast might have been due to blockade of the chimney that was not repaired of the cracks it had developed during the earthquake in April, earlier this year.  

 

Mahendra Sah, general secretary of brick entrepreneurs' association, Sunsari chapter, told Republica that the actual cause of the chimney blast cannot be said at the moment. “It is the subject of an ongoing investigation, nothing can be said of the actual cause,” he said. 

 

Following the incident, District Administration Office (DAO) Sunsari has shutdown brick kiln factories in the district, which don't meet minimum required safety standards.