11,000 kg of gunpowder illegally stored at firm's blast-hit godown in Goa

Panaji: Investigation into a fire-triggered blast at the warehouse of a private small calibre ammunition making factory in South Goa last week has indicated that nearly 11,000 kg of gunpowder was illegally stored at the facility, police said.

In a media statement on Wednesday, a police spokesperson said around 11,000 kg of gunpowder was stored in one of the magazines without obtaining the requisite licence from authorities by M/s Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, which owned the factory.

The fire at the warehouse, stocked with explosives, sparked a massive explosion destroying 14.5 tonnes of gunpowder, police earlier said on March 21.

No casualty was reported in the incident which occurred at around 10.30 pm on March 20 on the premises of M/s Hughes Precision in Naqueri-Betul village in South Goa.

The blast, however, created cracks in the houses of people living nearby.

A manufacturing plant of the company is located at Verna Industrial Estate in South Goa.

The police said a complaint against the firm was filed by South Goa Deputy Collector based in Quepem town, accusing the management and other staff of not complying with standing instructions or guidelines issued by authorities during the grant of licence for transportation, storing of propellant (gunpowder).

This non-compliance with guidelines led to the fire incident, according to the complaint.

The spokesperson said the police inquiry conducted so far has indicated the company stored 11,000 kilograms of gunpowder without obtaining permission from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The PESO later suspended the company's licence to store gunpowder at the warehouse.

The Cuncolim police, conducting the probe, have booked the company management officials under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions related to endangering human life or personal safety, and causing damage to property.