17 Killed, 18 Injured in Factory Blast in Nagpur; Fadnavis Orders Probe

The blast took place at the SBL Energy Limited factory, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer, at Raulgaon in Katol tehsil. Gunpowder manufacturing was underway at the factory, when the explosion occurred, said police.

According to police, between 7 and 8:30 am, powerful explosions occurred one after the other in the company’s non-ferrous crimping units. There were 36 workers present in the unit at the time of the incident. The intensity of the explosions was so terrible that they were heard for several kilometers triggering panic in the surrounding locality. A blaze erupted after the explosion and by noon, the completely burnt bodies of 17 workers were pulled out from under the rubble.

Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Harssh Poddar confirmed the casualties and said the injured were being rushed to nearby hospitals.

The injured have been admitted to Orange City Hospital in Nagpur, while some of the seriously wounded were shifted to a nearby government hospital for emergency treatment. It is being claimed that the death toll may rise.

District and police officials rushed to the spot soon after the incident, and fire brigade teams were deployed to control the situation. Authorities have cordoned off the area as rescue operations continue. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed at the site to assist local authorities in rescue and recovery operations.

Officials said the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined. A detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain how the blast occurred and whether safety protocols were followed at the facility.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) expressed grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance for the victims. In a post on X, the PMO said, “The explosion at a factory in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is deeply distressing. My condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. Taking to X, he said, “The incident of the explosion at an explosives factory in Raulgaon in Nagpur district is extremely unfortunate and tragic. I am in constant contact with the local administration. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police reached the incident site immediately. NDRF and SDRF teams are also at the site. Teams from PESO and DISH have arrived. Rescue operations have been accelerated, and so far, 17 people have lost their lives. I pay heartfelt tribute to the deceased. We share in the grief of their families. In this incident, 18 people have been injured. The injured have been promptly shifted to Nagpur. I pray at the feet of God for their swift recovery. Orders have been issued for a thorough investigation into this incident.”

SBL Energy Limited is a prominent manufacturer of industrial explosives located in Kalmeshwar near Nagpur. The company manufactures explosives, detonators and associated materials that are mainly utilised in mining activities and infrastructure development. According to locals, accidents had previously occurred in the same company on several occasions, raising question marks over its safety measures.