INDIA – 17 Dead, 18 Injured in Explosion at Nagpur Explosives Factory
A powerful explosion at an explosives manufacturing plant in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on Sunday, March 1, killed 17 people and injured 18 others, police officials confirmed.
The blast occurred at the SBL Energy Limited facility in Raulgaon village of Katol tehsil, about 50 kilometres from Nagpur city. According to company representatives, the incident took place between 7:00 am and 7:15 am in the detonator packing section of the plant.
Police said the victims’ bodies were charred beyond recognition, and DNA samples from family members are being collected to establish their identities. The injured were immediately shifted to hospitals in Nagpur, where they are receiving treatment.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the explosion and said he is in constant contact with the local administration.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), and Defence Information System for Security (DISS) were deployed at the site. Rescue efforts were launched immediately and carried out on a war footing.
In an official statement, SBL Energy Limited said the blast occurred in the packing area where no active manufacturing work was underway at the time. The company said the exact cause remains under investigation and that it is cooperating fully with authorities.
The firm has initiated an internal review and stated that corrective and preventive measures will be implemented once the investigation is complete.
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