2 labourers from MP killed in blast at Nagpur firecracker unit

Two labourers died and three others were injured in a blast at a firecracker unit in Maharashtra's Nagpur district on Sunday, a senior police official said.

The explosion took place at 1:30 pm at Asian Fireworks under Kalmeshwar police station limits in Katol tehsil, some 50 kilometres from the district headquarters, Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh Poddar said.

“The two deceased labourers hailed from Seoni and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh. Three persons were injured. There were 31 persons at the firecracker unit when the blast took place,” the SP told reporters.

“The reason for the blast is unclear and a team of forensic experts is arriving at the site as part of the probe. The unit manufactures 'sutli' (cord) used to ignite firecrackers,” Poddar informed.

Another official identified the deceased as Munish Madavi (34) and Bhura Laxman Rajjak (25), while two of the injured persons are Ghanshyam Lokhande and Sohail Shaikh, who are hospitalised.

“The blast occurred when coal powder was being heated in a blower. We will probe if safety protocols were in place and were being followed. We will check if the labourers were given protective gear,” this official said.

A senior police official had earlier said the incident took place in SBL Energy Limited, a major manufacturer of explosives.