Prayagraj Phaphamau Cold Storage Tragedy: Former Minister Ansar Ahmad, Son and Nephew Arrested; Four Labourers Dead
Prayagraj: Police have arrested former Samajwadi Party minister Ansar Ahmad, along with his son Manjoor Ahmad and nephew Allauddin, in connection with the tragic collapse of the Adarsh Cold Storage in Chandapur village of Phaphamau, on the outskirts of Prayagraj.
The incident claimed the lives of four labourers and left more than a dozen others injured.
The three accused were taken into custody on Tuesday and later sent to judicial remand after being produced before a magistrate.
The cold storage facility, owned by Ansar Ahmad, witnessed a sudden collapse of its front portion on Monday afternoon while several labourers were resting inside the premises.
The workers had no indication of the impending disaster when the structure suddenly gave way, trapping many under the debris.
According to the police, preliminary investigation suggests that the building was in a dilapidated condition and was allegedly being operated without proper maintenance, despite handling hazardous substances such as ammonia gas.
Officials suspect that a blast in the chamber of the ammonia gas pipeline may have triggered the collapse.
The pungent and potentially harmful smell of ammonia spread in the surrounding area following the incident, raising concerns about safety standards at the facility.
The Phaphamau police have registered a case of culpable homicide against Ansar Ahmad, Manjoor Ahmad and Allauddin.
The FIR has been lodged under sections 103(1), 127, 287, 125(b), 118(1) and 7 of the relevant legal provisions.
The case also names the cold storage manager, Usman, along with Mohd Aslam, Mohd Irfan, Javed, and five unidentified persons.
Authorities believe that the cold storage was being run without trained technical staff to safely manage the ammonia-based refrigeration system, which is considered highly sensitive and potentially dangerous if not handled properly.
Sources claim that despite being aware of the technical risks, the owners continued operations primarily for financial gains without ensuring adequate safety measures.
Following the incident, the state government initiated action and suspended Horticulture Officer Saurabh Srivastava. Uttar Pradesh Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh visited the accident site on Tuesday and, after inspection, held the officer responsible for lapses in oversight.
The minister also met injured labourers admitted to the hospital and reviewed the ongoing treatment arrangements.
Immediately after the collapse, the district administration launched a large-scale rescue and relief operation.
The District Magistrate of Prayagraj sought assistance from the Army, while teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) worked alongside local authorities to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gangapar) Kuldeep Singh Gunawat stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused named in the FIR.
Police are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the incident and to establish responsibility for the alleged negligence that led to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the defence lawyers representing the accused have argued that the incident was an industrial accident and not a case of murder, claiming that the allegations are politically motivated.
The Samajwadi Party has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased labourers and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns regarding safety compliance and monitoring of cold storage facilities handling hazardous chemicals, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of technical and structural standards to prevent such disasters in the future.
