Surat: Udhna police on Thursday confirmed that four workers died in the January 19 fire at a plastic scrap unit in Surat and arrested two brothers who owned the facility.

The fire broke out after a plastic crusher overheated and exploded at RMS Plast in Uma Industrial Estate, trapping five workers. Two victims died on January 22 at Civil Hospital, while two others succumbed to burn injuries on January 25 at Kiran Hospital. Another worker remains in critical condition.

Police arrested Mohammad Husain Meman (37) and his brother Mohammad Abdul Kadir Meman (35) under Sections 105 and 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. A third partner, Saqib Fakir Shaikh, is absconding.

Investigators found that the unit had been operating for over a year without a mandatory fire NOC. The premises were congested, lacked safety measures, and had not informed the Industrial Safety Department. Around eight workers were present when the explosion occurred, and burning plastic waste intensified the blaze.

A Surat Municipal Corporation team later found the unit had only Shops and Establishments Act registration. Citing multiple violations, authorities sealed the facility. All deceased workers were residents of Sanjaynagar, and an executive magistrate recorded their dying declarations during treatment. DeshGujarat