Four officials at Holcim Ambuja Cement unit have been arrested after an accident killed five workers at a plant in Bhatapara, India, Press Trust of India reported, citing the police.
Ambuja Vice-President Sanjay Kumar Badopadhyay was among those arrested under laws governing negligence with machinery, endangering life or personal safety and causing death by negligence, according to the report. Holcim spokesman Peter Gysel said arrests would normally follow an accident and said he couldn’t confirm the report.
The accident took place in Chattisgarh on January 31 at about 11 am when a steel construction collapsed, according to an e-mail. Holcim’s internal rescue team moved to the site and called on rescue teams from nearby Lafarge SA and Ultratech Cement plants.
Holcim has frozen production at the plant and agreed to compensate victim’s families with $19,000, one job for a family member and statutory compensation as applicable, according to the statement.