ISLAMABAD: A deadly explosion ripped through an explosives manufacturing facility in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on Sunday morning, killing at least 17 workers and injuring 18 others, Indian media reported.
The blast occurred at SBL Energy Ltd’s unit in Raulgaon village in Katol tehsil, a rural area outside Nagpur, during the early shift when dozens of workers were inside.
Reports said the explosion originated in a section linked to detonator/non-electric detonator operations, triggering a major fire and collapsing parts of the structure, leaving some workers trapped under debris.
Rescue teams, including local fire services and district administration staff, rushed to the scene, with reinforcements from specialist units later assisting the operation.
The factory’s remote location and narrow approach roads complicated the movement of heavy equipment and ambulances.
Several victims reportedly sustained severe burns, with some bodies charred beyond recognition, complicating identification and likely requiring forensic and DNA analysis, according to Indian media reports.
The injured were transported to hospitals in Nagpur, where doctors described many cases as critical because of extensive thermal injuries.
Authorities also began accounting for workers who were on duty at the time of the blast.
Investigators from safety and industrial oversight bodies launched a technical probe into compliance with explosive storage limits, equipment standards, and workplace safety protocols, with samples reportedly sent for forensic analysis.
The Times of India reported that police initially registered an accidental death case and were weighing stronger charges depending on the findings and accountability of the management.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of industrial safety in hazardous manufacturing, with calls from opposition leaders and worker representatives for a comprehensive safety audit of similar facilities across the region
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