AHMEDABAD: A devastating boiler explosion at a firecracker factory in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district claimed the lives of 17 migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Three others sustained critical burn injuries, while five workers suffered minor injuries.
The factory, located on Dhunwa Road in Deesa, caught fire following the blast. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. Initial reports suggest that the explosion was triggered by a boiler malfunction, which subsequently ignited the fire. Authorities have cautioned that the death toll may rise as the rescue operation continues.
At the time of the incident, workers were engaged in production inside the factory. The explosion occurred so suddenly and with such force that the workers had no time to escape. The impact of the blast was so severe that human remains were found scattered up to 50 metres from the site, including in a nearby field.
Fire department personnel are now carrying out cooling operations within the premises after dousing the fire.
All deceased and injured workers were residents of Madhya Pradesh. According to sources, they had arrived in Deesa just two days ago for daily wage work and were employed in firecracker production. Authorities are currently working to identify the deceased.
Deesa Sub-Divisional Magistrate Neha Panchal confirmed that all the injured have been admitted to the Civil Hospital. Of the three critically injured, each has suffered burns exceeding 40 percent. She stated that an official investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.
The administration has assured that a comprehensive probe will be conducted and the reasons behind the tragic blast will soon be ascertained.
