Mumbai, March 01: At least seventeen people were killed and eighteen others seriously injured in a Sunday morning blast at the SBL Energy Limited explosives factory in Nagpur district, Maharashtra; the injured were rushed to Nagpur District Hospital for treatment.
According to locals, a sudden explosion occurred at around 7:15 a.m. Sunday in the factory’s detonator packing unit. The explosion was so powerful that it immediately ignited a massive fire in the unit, spreading panic in the surrounding area. The sound of the blast was heard several kilometers away, causing panic among locals.
Upon receiving information about the incident, teams from the district administration, police, and fire department arrived at the scene. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have also been deployed for relief and rescue operations.
Officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DIAS) have also reached the site and are investigating. A continuous search operation is underway to rescue those trapped in the debris. The administration fears that the death toll may rise.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling the incident extremely tragic and unfortunate, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. He announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the dependents of each deceased. He stated that all the injured will be treated at the state government’s expense and that a high-level investigation will be conducted and strict action will be taken against those responsible.
This accident has raised serious questions about safety standards in explosives manufacturing units. Initial suspicions are that the explosion may have been caused by a technical fault in the packing unit or a violation of safety rules. However, the actual cause will only be clear after the investigation report is released.
Authorities have sealed the factory premises and launched a detailed investigation.