LAHORE, Nov 25: Six labourers were electrocuted and another three suffered critical burns when a heavy crane touched high voltage wires in a spare parts factory of vehicles in Nishtar Colony here on Friday.

Reports said the crane was arranged to shift heavy machines to the first floor of the factory at Shadab Colony.

Nishtar Colony SHO Muhammad Akmal said the crane stationed on the main road outside the Volta Factory lifted a huge machine to shift it to the first floor when it touched the 11KV electricity wires passing along the outer boundary. Consequently, the crane driver and five other factory workers suffered severe burns and died instantly while three other employees at the first floor sustained multiple injuries. They were shifted to a hospital by Rescue 1122 personnel, he said.

The deceased labourers were identified as Razzaq, Ijaz, Zulfiqar, Asif, Usman and Sabir while the injured were Tariq, Shoaib and Allah Rakha.

The SHO said it seemed that preventive measures were not taken despite passing of heavy voltage wires only a few feet away from the factory building.

No case was registered as the investigation was underway, he said adding that the police were also trying to contact relatives of victims.

Some relatives of the victims demonstrated at the Lahore General Hospital and demanded police action against the factory owner and others responsible for the untoward incident.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the police to take strict action against the people responsible for the death of six workers and injuries to others.