THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Banaskantha, April 1: A massive fire at a firecracker godown in Deesa in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, has reportedly claimed the lives of 18 workers, while five others have suffered severe burns.
According to reports, the blaze was triggered by a boiler explosion, causing the fire to engulf the entire factory. The flames spread so rapidly that the workers had no time to react.
Regarding the incident, Banaskantha SP Akshayraj Makwana stated that 18 bodies have been recovered from the debris so far. The explosion was so powerful that the godown’s slab collapsed, trapping workers underneath. All those who died are reportedly from Madhya Pradesh.
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Police have registered a case against factory owner Khubchand Sindhi under Section 304 of the BNS, and he will be arrested. According to sources, the godown was engaged in manufacturing firecrackers, despite the owner having a license only for selling them.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it extremely tragic. He assured that the government stands with the affected families during this difficult time and has directed the administration to expedite relief and rescue operations.
The Gujarat government has announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his condolences in a post on X over this horrific incident in Gujarat. He described the incident as deeply distressing, noting the untimely death and severe injuries of workers from Madhya Pradesh. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
