Madhya Pradesh: 1 Dead, 14 Workers Injured In Ordnance Factory Explosion In Jabalpur; 1 Person Missing

A powerful explosion at the Ordnance Factory Khamaria in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district on Tuesday morning resulted in one worker's death and left another missing, while 14 others were injured, with one in critical condition in the ICU.

The factory's general manager, M N Haldar, stated that the blast occurred around 10:45 AM during the routine "boil out" process of a Russian missile.

The factory's Public Relations Officer Avinash Shankar said a worker named Randhir Kumar, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital, succumbed to the injuries. Three others were admitted there and one of them was in ICU, he added.

The blast was so powerful that it was even heard by people a few kilometres away, as per eyewitnesses.

Mutilated body parts were found by the rescue team near the blast site, and these would be sent for forensic examination so that identification can be done, he said. The body parts were found during a search for missing employee Alexender Toppo, Shankar added.

Eleven other injured employees were discharged from the factory hospital after primary treatment, he informed.

Ordnance Factory Khamaria is one of the major ammunition production units under the Department of Defence Production.

A probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause behind the blast, the PRO said.

Fire brigade and security staff of the factory launched the relief and rescue operation immediately after the blast, the official added.

General manager Haldar said while three or four persons were present in the same building at the time of the blast, others were working in the adjoining buildings.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences.

"Information has been received about the loss of precious lives due to the explosion in the Army's Khamaria Ordnance Factory in Jabalpur. I express my condolences to the factory workers who lost their lives untimely in the incident," he said.

Providing the best possible treatment to the injured was the state government's priority, Yadav added.