Lagatar24 Desk
Ahmedabad: A devastating explosion at a firecracker factory in Disa, Banaskantha district of Gujarat, has claimed the lives of 18 workers, with five others seriously injured. According to officials, the blaze broke out after a boiler explosion, causing the entire unit to erupt in flames, leaving workers with little time to react.
The victims were mostly migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh. The factory structure collapsed due to the force of the blast, trapping many under debris.
Case Registered Against Factory Owner
Banaskantha SP Akshayraj Makwana confirmed that 18 bodies had been recovered so far. Police have registered a case under BNS Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against factory owner Khubchand Sindhi, who will be arrested. Officials revealed that the factory only had a license to sell firecrackers, not manufacture them.
Gujarat CM Announces Compensation, Orders Probe
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “extremely painful”. He instructed the administration to speed up relief and rescue operations and announced ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He also assured that the state government would provide all possible assistance.
MP CM Condoles Deaths Of State’s Migrant Workers
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offered condolences on X (formerly Twitter), terming the deaths of workers from his state as “heart-wrenching”. He conveyed solidarity with the bereaved families and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
Congress Slams BJP Over Fire Safety Failures
Congress state president Shaktisinh Gohil hit out at the BJP government, alleging corruption in the fire safety certification process. Referring to recent fatal fire incidents in Surat, Rajkot, and now Banaskantha, he claimed that authorities were issuing fake safety certificates in exchange for bribes. “This is not just negligence; it’s criminal apathy,” Gohil stated.
He added that merely offering compensation cannot undo the trauma and urged the state government to ensure adequate economic support for the victims’ families.
