Assam Jorhat Blast: Two Dead, Including Child, After Explosion During Scrap Processing

The Jorhat explosion in Assam left two dead and two injured, with victims identified as Noor Mohammad and Mohammad Iqbal. Investigations focus on scrap processing practices and potential hazards, while authorities assess safety in Rajamaidam New Colony and surrounding areas.

Two people, including a scrap collector aged 45 and an eight-year-old child, died after an explosion in Assam's Jorhat district on 23 March, police said. Two others were injured. The blast, described as powerful by residents, occurred in the Raja Maidam area of Jorhat town.

Police stated that all four injured persons were taken to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital soon after the incident. Doctors there declared two of them dead on arrival. The sudden nature of the explosion has raised concern among residents about safety in the neighbourhood.

Jorhat explosion: victims, injured and identification details

The deceased were identified as Noor Mohammad, aged 45, and Mohammad Iqbal, aged eight. Both lived in Rajamaidam New Colony in Jorhat town, police confirmed. The injured persons were named as 12-year-old Sehnaj Begum and 35-year-old Noorjahan Begum, who also belong to the same locality.

The following table lists the known victims from the Jorhat explosion, along with age, status, and residence details as confirmed by police and hospital authorities.

Assam Jorhat explosion: scrap processing, blast accounts and investigation

Senior superintendent of police of Jorhat, Sibhrajyoti Bora, said Noor Mohammad collected scrap from different parts of the town. Noor Mohammad stored this material in a rented house and worked on it there. Residents reported that this activity was underway when the blast happened.

According to locals, the explosion took place while Noor Mohammad was breaking scrap material with a hammer. Children nearby were playing close to the working area. "Locals said Noor was processing the scrap materials with a hammer when the explosion occurred, and children playing nearby were caught in the blast. We are examining the cause of the explosion," Bora said.

People living near Raja Maidam reported hearing a very loud sound. "Initially, we thought it was an LPG cylinder blast, but later we realized it was something different," a local resident said. Neighbours hurried to the site and saw four injured persons, after which police and emergency services were alerted.

Bora mentioned that officers are checking all scrap collected by Noor Mohammad to see whether any hazardous material was present. "We are investigating the matter further, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem," Bora said. Police also clarified that the event was not linked to an LPG cylinder, though the strength of the explosion spread fear in the surrounding area.

The blast has created tension in Rajamaidam New Colony and nearby parts of Jorhat town, with residents voicing worry about hidden risks in scrap materials. Police teams continue examining the site, while medical staff monitor the injured, as authorities work to establish what triggered the explosion.