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McDonald’s India charged with fire code violations after fatal blast in Calcutta

CALCUTTA India Local fire department officials have charged McDonald’s India with fire code violations after an explosion at a unit in Calcutta killed one and seriously injured four others, according to reports in Indian newspapers.

Police ruled out initial suspicions of sabotage or terrorism in the Aug. 13 blast, which occurred two days before the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, reports said. Officials continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, which unofficially has been blamed on a malfunctioning high-compression air-conditioning system.

“We are fully cooperating with authorities into the ongoing investigation so as to determine the cause of the incident,” Rudra Kishore Sen, a McDonald’s India executive said in a statement. “McDonald’s India adheres to the most stringent global safety standards and to all applicable and statutory fire safety norms. We accord the highest priority to our employees’ and customers’ safety and well-being.”

The restaurant, the first McDonald’s in Calcutta, opened five months ago. A total of 105 McDonald’s units were in operation in India at the end of last year.

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