A massive blast at an ordnance factory in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra on Friday claimed the lives of at least eight people and injured seven more.
According to District Collector Sanjay Kolte, the explosion happened in the district factory at around 10.30 a.m. While firefighters worked to limit the situation, rescue and medical personnel searched for survivors.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the number of fatalities in the tragedy, saying, “Preliminary reports say that eight people had been killed and seven others were injured in the blast.” He made this statement at a news conference held in Nagpur by the Association for Industrial Development. The Minister offered condolences and a minute of quiet in observance, pausing the media event.
Authorities said in a statement that during the morning, an explosion occurred at the Ordnance Factory in Bhandara. Rescue efforts are in progress and medical personnel have been deployed seeking survivors.
District Collector Sanjay Kolte informed that fFirefighters and ambulances were sent to the scene following the explosion, and the rescue effort is presently under progress. A roof has collapsed, and JCB is assisting with its removal. Two people have been rescued out of the 12 persons that are reportedly present.
The blast was so severe that people up to five kilometers away could hear it. Several distant videos of massive smoke plumes rising from the facility appeared on the social media platform.
An inquiry has been started into the occurrence, and the reason for the explosion is yet unknown. Nana Patole, the leader of the Maharashtra Congress, said in the initial response to the disaster that this is the failure of the Modi government.
