Explosion at a fireworks factory

More than 25 people were killed and many were injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The blast occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a blaze engulfed the factory in Balaghat district. Dozens of workers managed to escape unhurt as firefighters brought the fire under control in two hours.

Another five were being treated for burns and smoke inhalation and the condition of two was critical, he added. "The blast was so powerful that its sound could be heard five kilometres from the site,".

Cause of the fire

The cause of the fire was not clear, but it was likely triggered after a worker threw a lit cigarette bud in the premises. Police lodged a case of culpable homicide against the factory owner, who was absconding soon after the explosion.

Compensation of 200,000 rupees to each of the victims' families will be provided by the state agencies.

Analysis

India has a huge demand for firecrackers, which are used in religious festivals and weddings. Workplace accidents are common in Indian fireworks factories, where inadequate safety standards and lax enforcement of regulations have led to horrific deaths. Local media reported that at least 11 people were killed in similar accidents in Madhya Pradesh in April, last year.

It is a matter of investigation to find out the actual cause of fire, a senior police official said. The post-mortem on the bodies have been conducted and then samples from the spot were also collected. We will soon be able to find out the cause behind the fire."

There is a suspicion that someone might have thrown a burning cigarette inside the factory, when the production was going on.

Assessment

Accidental explosions are fairly common at Indian fireworks factories, where safety norms are often disregarded. The workers as well as the factory owners should be highly careful and cautious. It is difficult to say if it has been planned by some intruder or an outsider as the accidents are highly common in such places.