One worker died on the spot after a boiler (a container used to heat fuel or water) exploded at Jyoti Distillery located in Katahariya Municipality–9, of Rautahat, on Saturday morning.

Six other workers were injured in the explosion, and the condition of three of them is said to be critical.

The explosion occurred in the morning when the fuel- or water-heating container burst. Among the eight workers on duty at the distillery, 45-year-old Laxman Yadav of Baluwa village, Katahariya Municipality–9, died at the scene.

District Police Chief Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabin Karki confirmed the incident and said that a team including a deputy superintendent of police has been deployed from the district headquarters to the site.“There has been one death and half a dozen injuries in the explosion,” he said. “A team has already been deployed to investigate the incident.”

Due to the powerful blast, the distillery premises sustained damage. According to police, the force of the explosion threw the deceased Yadav across the road. SP Karki said that one of the eight workers on duty luckily survived as he had gone outside the building to smoke at the time of the explosion.

According to district police, the injured include Rahmod Alam, Pramjit Yadav, Jagdish Yadav, Bignan Yadav and Mukesh Yadav who were working at the distillery. Jagdish, Bignan and Mukesh have burns on their hands and legs, and their condition is critical. Kailash Mali is also injured.

After initial treatment, the injured were sent to Birgunj by ambulance for further treatment. Police said preparations were being made to take the burn victims to Kathmandu for treatment in an advanced hospital.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. SP Karki said that police have also been deployed from Garuda and Bijaypur to the explosion site.