New Delhi, 01 March (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed profound grief over the devastating explosion at SBL Energy Limited's explosives factory in Nagpur, Maharashtra, announcing immediate ex-gratia payments from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to support bereaved families and the injured.

The blast, which ripped through the detonator packing unit in Raulgaon, Katol tehsil, early Sunday morning between 7:00 and 7:15 AM, has claimed at least 17 lives and left 18 others critically injured, with the massive shockwave audible kilometers away, igniting fires and scattering debris across the site.

Rescue operations involving NDRF, SDRF, fire brigades, and local authorities continue amid a thorough government-ordered probe into the cause, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis monitors the situation and pledges additional state aid of Rs 5 lakh per deceased kin.

In a heartfelt statement on X, PM Modi posted: The explosion at a factory in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is deeply distressing. My condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

He extended prayers for the swift recovery of survivors, now receiving treatment in Nagpur hospitals, underscoring the Centre's commitment to those impacted.

Industrial Hazard Under Scrutiny

SBL Energy Limited, a key manufacturer of mining and industrial explosives including detonators and bulk emulsions, saw the incident unfold during routine operations, with 25-30 workers present in the affected section; fears linger of additional trapped individuals beneath collapsed structures. Officials from PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) and DISH (Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health) have mobilized for inspections, as the state government accelerates relief while the death toll may rise.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar