On Tuesday morning, a fire caused by a boiler explosion at an illegal firecracker storage unit in Deesa town, Gujarat, led to the deaths of 21 people and injured 6 others. The factory had applied for a license renewal in December, but the police rejected it because they found no safety measures in place during an inspection.
According to local officials, the victims were mostly workers from the Harda and Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh. Many of them were immigrants searching for work. The blast occurred in a storage unit where firecrackers were kept, resulting in a roof collapse that trapped the workers.
Health Minister Rushikesh Patel stated that 23 people were working at the time of the explosion, and 5 more were hurt and quickly taken to a nearby hospital. The owner of the factory, Khupchand Sindhi, is currently on the run, but later reports confirmed he has been arrested.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow for the loss of lives and offered his condolences. He said that 2 lakh INR would be given to the families of those who died, while the injured would receive 50,000 INR. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also announced that families of the deceased would receive 4 lakh INR each.
Officials revealed that the factory had a license since 2021, but the police found serious safety concerns that prevented its renewal. Despite this, the factory was allowed to keep operating until the deadly incident happened. Local police are now investigating the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for a quick investigation and the strictest punishment for anyone responsible. He stressed the need for better safety rules to protect workers in factories like this one.
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