17 dead, many injured as massive blast tears through Nagpur’s Katol factory

The blast took place at the SBL Energy Ltd's factory, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer at Katol, around 50 kms away from Nagpur city.

Mumbai: At least 17 persons were killed and 18 others were injured in a massive blast at an explosives manufacturing unit at Raulgaon in Katol area of Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Sunday.

The blast took place at the SBL Energy Ltd factory, a manufacturer of mining and industrial explosives, in Katol, about 50 km from Nagpur city.

The blast occurred around 0700 hrs.

The blast could be heard several kilometres away.

The smoke, which billowed for several hours, could be seen from the neighbouring towns.

Nagpur district administration, police and disaster management officials and units immediately reached the spot.

Among those killed were a large number of women.

Nagpur Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar and Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Dr. Harssh Poddar have rushed to the spot to oversee the investigation.

The injured persons have been shifted to hospitals in Nagpur including the Orange City Hospital.

Expressing grief over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for all those injured. “The incident 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,” he said.

Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDR), Chief Controller of Explosives of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health(DISH) have rushed to the spot.

“The explosion incident at the explosives factory in Raulgaon in Nagpur district is extremely unfortunate and tragic,” said Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister.

Fadnavis ordered a thorough investigation into this incident.

Additionally, he announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who is also the Nagpur Guardian Minister, is overseeing the relief operations.

“So far, 17 people have lost their lives in this accident, and information has been received that 18 people have been injured,” said Bawankule.

“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,” said Fadnavis.

Katol MLA Chandrasing Thakur rushed to the factory. “It is a serious incident. Prima facie, it appears to be due to negligence and flouting of safety norms,” he said.

SBL is considered one of the manufacturers and suppliers of industrial and mining explosives in India.

While the exact cause of the SBL Energy blast remains unknown, police noted that the factory, which spans over 225 acres, produces a wide range of sensitive materials, including detonators and emulsion explosives.

Part of the factory was reduced to rubble.

"People in the neighbouring areas got a jolt early in the morning as the blast ripped through. Some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition," eyewitneses said.