Six people, including five female employees, were engulfed in flames and killed after a catastrophic explosion ripped through Chamundi Explosives Ltd in Dhamna, 25km from Nagpur, on Thursday.
Rescue efforts were delayed as factory personnel were unable to enter the smoke-filled area, which became a death trap. When the fire was finally extinguished, dismembered body parts were found amidst the metal wreckage. Three other employees are in critical condition at various hospitals in Nagpur. Preliminary investigations suggest that sparks from the explosive sealing section triggered the blast.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased, while the unit’s management has yet to offer any relief. The facility, located on the Amravati highway, manufactures safety fuses, gunpowder, firecrackers, and detonators.
On Thursday, angry villagers blocked the Amravati highway, claiming that the victims had been trapped inside the explosive sealing and packing unit for over an hour and a half before being burned to death. “The bodies were charred beyond recognition,” an eyewitness reported, adding that the factory lacked adequate safety measures.
Yadavrao Modre, a relative of 21-year-old victim Pranjali, stated that the company had no effective firefighting mechanisms despite handling flammable chemicals.
Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal and Joint CP Aswati Dorje visited the private hospital where the injured were admitted. Singal confirmed that the process of registering an offence is underway.
