MP Fireworks Unit Blasts Claim 11 Lives, Leave 200 Injured

3 Arrested in Connection with the incident…

On Tuesday morning, a fireworks factory on the outskirts of Harda experienced a series of explosions, resulting in the tragic loss of eleven lives and leaving nearly 200 individuals injured.

The factory, which had been ordered closed in 2022, employed over 200 workers, with approximately 70 on duty during the morning shift.

The fate of these workers remained unknown until midnight amidst the chaos and panic that ensued.

Three individuals, including the factory owners, brothers Rajesh and Somesh Agrawal, along with general manager Rafiq Khan, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

It's worth noting the irony that Rajesh, one of the owners, had previously been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2021 following a blast that claimed the lives of two workers in 2015.

However, he had challenged the verdict.

The three-story factory was destroyed by the hour-long blasts, resulting in a pile of concrete and rubble.

The intense heat emanating from the debris made it impossible to approach the site until late at night.

The full extent of the tragedy may only become clear by morning.

Government officials assert that the current body count is unlikely to increase significantly as most workers had fled following the initial blast.

This tragic event underscores a situation that was bound to result in disaster: a factory operating despite being ordered closed, and managed by an owner previously sentenced to jail for the deaths of two workers in a blast eight years ago.

Despite having its license initially suspended and later cancelled, the factory continued to operate, reportedly with the support of influential individuals.

In October of last year, an IAS officer inspected the factory and was alarmed to discover a significantly higher amount of explosives stored on the premises than permitted.

However, no action has yet been taken based on the inspection report.

Despite a history marked by fatalities and unsuccessful inspections, the factory remained operational until a catastrophic explosion on February 6 reduced it to rubble, claiming the lives of at least 11 individuals and injuring 200 others.