At least 18 people lost their lives, and five others sustained injuries in a suspected boiler explosion and subsequent collapse at a firecracker factory-cum-warehouse in Deesa, Banaskantha district in India's Gujarat state, on Tuesday.
The powerful blast triggered a fire, leading to the roof's collapse. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment at government hospitals in Deesa and Palanpur.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced financial assistance for the victims, pledging INR 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and INR 50,000 for those injured.
Investigations have revealed that the factory, owned by Deepak Traders and situated in Deesa GIDC, was operating without approval from the Banaskantha Police and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
Banaskantha Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana confirmed that the unit was primarily a firecracker storage facility that also supplied products to five retail outlets. Although the firm had recently applied for a license renewal, authorities had denied approval due to serious fire safety concerns. Despite lacking permission from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), operations continued, ultimately leading to the tragic incident.
P Seeniraj, the joint chief controller of explosives for Vadodara Circle, confirmed that the firm had not been granted a license to store firecrackers.
Most of the deceased workers hailed from Madhya Pradesh. Expressing condolences, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav described the incident as "heartbreaking" and assured full support to the victims' families. He emphasized that the Madhya Pradesh government is in close coordination with Gujarat authorities regarding the tragedy.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also conveyed his condolences on social media, stating that he is in constant contact with the administration to oversee rescue, relief, and medical efforts.
Law enforcement has launched a major crackdown, with SP Makwana confirming that five police teams have been formed to investigate the matter. Efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible, with teams dispatched to Rajasthan, Ahmedabad, and Sabarkantha.
Rescue operations, which lasted over seven hours, involved firefighting units from Deesa, Palanpur, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). Officials from the Gujarat State Fire Prevention Services (GSFPS) stated that Dixit Patel, the Regional Fire Officer (RFO) of the Gandhinagar Region, is assessing the situation and may request additional resources if necessary. However, he has not yet provided an official statement.
