A devastating explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Ahmedabad caused at least eight people to be killed and several others were injured as the city’s industrial plant was destroyed in the midst of a heavy firecracker bomb attack on Saturday, triggering a rescue operation by firefighters, police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) who had to be rescued from the scene, and in the nearby vicinity of a factory on Ramol-Gatrad Road near Mehmudpura in the Vastral region to detonate a blast that erupted in the vicinity of Ahmedabad.
Emergency services rushed to the spot immediately after the explosion was reported. Five fire brigade vehicles, ambulances and senior officers from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Fire and Emergency Services were deployed to control the blaze and rescue those trapped inside the factory, officials said.
But officers from the nearby RAF camp were among the first people to respond after hearing the loud explosion. They rushed to the site before firefighters arrived and helped evacuate a number of injured workers from the burning building, potentially preventing an even bigger tragedy.
Some of the senior officials like Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Zone 8 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mayur Patil and Sector 2 Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) Jaipal Singh Rathod visited the site to monitor the rescue and relief work.
Eight Bodies Recovered
The authorities confirmed eight bodies have been recovered from the factory premises. Some of the people who were injured in the explosion have been sent to nearby hospitals for treatment. The exact number of workers present in the factory at the time of the blast is still to be determined but initial information suggests that eight to ten people were working there at the time of the explosion.
Firefighters fought the fire with water jets and finally brought it under control. Rescuers also searched the damaged building for bodies beneath the rubble and found nobody.
Factory Allegedly Operating Without Valid Licence
The incident has raised serious questions about illegal industrial operations in the area.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police Jaipal Singh Rathod, the firecracker manufacturing unit was allegedly operating illegally. He said the factory belonged to Mehul Dodiya and that its licence had already been cancelled by the authorities. The company continued to produce and store firecrackers even after the cancellation.
Police officials said this would be an important part of the investigation, as the firecracker factory operating without authorization poses significant risks to workers in the vicinity.
Investigation Underway
Although the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been established, investigators are looking into whether improper storage of explosive materials, safety violations or negligence were responsible for the deadly blast. Forensic experts are also expected to inspect the site as part of the investigation.
Ramol Police have launched a formal investigation and are expected to file a case under the Explosives Act and other relevant legal provisions. Evidence is being collected, witness statements are being recorded and the factory’s operational history is under investigation in order to see how the factory kept running even after the cancellation of its licence.
Safety Concerns Resurface
The tragedy has once again triggered questions about the operation of unauthorised firecracker manufacturers and industrial safety regulations. Because firecracker factories deal with combustible materials, they need to comply with safety standards.
Officials said further information on the cause of the explosion and accountability will only emerge after the investigation has concluded. Meanwhile, rescue and recovery operations have concluded and the survivors are recovering while their families are being supported; the injured are receiving medical care.
The incident is one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Ahmedabad in recent months and is expected to prompt a wider review of safety compliance at firecracker manufacturing plants across Gujarat.
