At least 18 people were killed and five injured after an explosion tore through a firecracker storage facility in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Monday.
The incident took place in an industrial area in the Banaskantha district. “As many as 18 persons died in the incident and five were injured after the slab of the building collapsed following a massive blast,” superintendent of police Akshayraj Makwana was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Most of the victims were from the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh. They were killed after a concrete slab collapsed on them.
Banaskantha’s collector, Mihir Patel, said the explosion took place at around 9.45am local time. “Relief teams are removing the debris,” he said, according to ANI.
According to local media, over 100 ambulance and firefighting crews from nearby Dees municipality responded to the blast.
The initial death toll of six was revised after the firefighters had controlled the blaze and searched the debris of the building.
#WATCH | Gujarat | Explosion occurs in a factory in the industrial area in Deesa, Banaskantha district; Five workers dead, says Collector. pic.twitter.com/PYkmn4UVeW
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2025
The building was reportedly meant to only store firecrackers and it was unclear if it was being used to manufacture them as well.
Mr Makwana said that no evidence of manufacturing had been discovered yet, but police would conduct a full investigation to find the source of the explosion.
VIDEO | Gujarat factory fire: Banaskantha SP Akshayraj Makwana says, "As soon as the police received information about a blast caused by a fire in a cracker godown, a rescue operation was conducted with the help of the local administration. So far, the police have admitted five… pic.twitter.com/AHs73fHj0j
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 1, 2025
VIDEO | As many as 18 killed and five got injured after a blast led to fire and building collapse in a firecracker factory in Gujarat's Banaskantha district earlier today.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 1, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC)#Banaskantha #GujaratFire pic.twitter.com/GH7zKUz0DC
Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel offered his condolences and announced financial assistance for the families of the dead and the injured.
“The incident of the death of workers due to fire and slab collapse in a firecracker godown in Deesa is heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences are with the relatives of the deceased in this hour of grief,” Mr Patel wrote on X in Gujarati. “I’m in constant touch with the administration regarding the relief, rescue and treatment work. I have instructed the administration to ensure that the injured get proper treatment at the earliest.”
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav said his administration was in touch with authorities in Gujarat. “The sad news of the untimely death and serious injuries of workers from Madhya Pradesh due to the explosion in a firecracker factory in Banaskantha, Gujarat is extremely heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” he wrote on the platform in Hindi. “The state government is committed to provide all possible help to the injured workers and the families of the deceased. Constant contact is being maintained with the Gujarat government regarding the accident.”
