Key Points:
- Tragic Explosion: A massive blast at an illegal firecracker factory in Deesa, Gujarat, killed 21 people, including seven children, and injured six others.
- Safety Violations: The factory operated without a valid license and lacked basic fire safety measures, leading to the collapse of the building during the explosion.
- Owners Arrested: Factory owners Khubchand Mohanani and his son Deepak were arrested and charged with culpable homicide and violations under the Explosives Act.
- Compensation Announced: The Gujarat government announced ₹4 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Ahmedabad: In a devastating incident, 21 people lost their lives, including seven children, and six others sustained injuries after a massive explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Deesa town of Gujarat’s Banaskantha district on Tuesday morning. The blast flattened the godown, causing the roof to collapse on workers and their families living on the premises. The tragedy has exposed glaring safety violations and a lack of regulatory oversight.
Details of the Incident
The explosion occurred at approximately 9:45 AM at Deepak Traders, a firecracker storage unit located in an industrial area near Deesa. The intensity of the blast was so severe that body parts of victims were found scattered up to 300 meters away. The collapsed structure buried workers under debris, leaving no time for escape.
Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel confirmed that all victims were migrant workers from Harda and Dewas districts in Madhya Pradesh. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, with three individuals suffering severe burns.
Illegal Operations Uncovered
The factory was operating without a valid license after its renewal application was rejected in December 2024 due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations. Despite this, operations continued clandestinely. Forensic investigations revealed that highly flammable materials like aluminum powder and yellow dextrin powder were stored illegally, triggering the deadly explosion.
Superintendent of Police Akshayraj Makwana stated that both substances are commonly used in firecracker manufacturing but were mishandled in this case. “The factory lacked even basic safety measures like proper ventilation or fire extinguishers,” he added.
Arrests and Investigation
The factory owners, Khubchand Mohanani and his son Deepak, were arrested within hours of the incident. They face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC Section 304 and violations under the Explosives Act. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe further into their operations and supply chain links across multiple states, including Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
Compensation for Victims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia from the PMNRF for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also announced ₹4 lakh compensation for each victim’s family.
However, survivors have criticized the compensation as inadequate. Rajesh Nayak, a worker who lost five family members in the blast, demanded at least ₹50 lakh per family, citing irreparable losses.
Rescue Operations
Emergency teams worked tirelessly for over 11 hours to rescue survivors and recover bodies from the debris. Firefighters from Deesa Municipality and SDRF personnel faced challenges due to intense flames fueled by stored firecrackers. Forensic experts are continuing their analysis to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Recurring Tragedy in Firecracker Industry
This incident highlights recurring safety lapses in India’s firecracker industry. Similar explosions have occurred in recent years due to negligence:
- In 2024, a blast in Harda, Madhya Pradesh killed 11 people.
- In 2019, explosions in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh claimed multiple lives.
Authorities are now scrutinizing other firecracker units across Gujarat to prevent such disasters in the future.
The Deesa tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in hazardous industries like firecracker manufacturing. While arrests have been made and compensation announced, questions remain about how such illegal operations continued despite prior inspections. As investigations proceed, families of victims demand justice and accountability for this preventable disaster.
