At least nine people have reportedly died while nearly 200 others have been injured in a massive explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh’s Harda on Tuesday.
Rescue operations were able to bring 174 people safely from the accident site.
Two owners of the firecrackers factory were arrested later in the night on Tuesday.
Initial videos on social media showed people running to safety following the incident.
Owners arrested
The two owners of the factory were booked for homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges, after an FIR was filed against them.
The two have been identified as identified as Rajesh Agrawal and Somesh Agrawal.
According to PTI, the accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Another person named Rafiq Khan was detained for questioning in connection with the incident.
What did the police and rescuers say?
Narmadapuram Commissioner Pawan Sharma spoke to PTI in the evening as he gave an idea of the situation in Harda, he said, "So far, 174 people have been rescued from the incident site; 34 were referred to Bhopal and Hoshangabad, while 140 were undergoing treatment in district hospital. One death has been reported from among the people who were referred, and 10 deaths have been reported from district hospital. The fire has been doused, and debris is being removed from the site. Investigation into the matter is underway, but currently, rescue mission is our priority."
Irshad Wali, IG Narmadapuram said, “We have evacuated everyone from the site. The FSL team is here to investigate; JCBs are working to remove debris, rescue mission is underway. We have called in additional machines also as the work will continue overnight. One person has been detained and FIR has been registered."
What did Madhya Pradesh CM say?
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav told PTI, "12 injured were brought here, one of them is no more. I have met the injured and the government is making all the necessary arrangements for them."
He declared that so far "11 people have died in the incident".
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke to the concerned officials and sought details of the incident right after it happened.
MP CM Yadav also directed the state ministers including Uday Pratap Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Ajit Kesari and Director General Home Guard Arvind Kumar to rush to Harda by a helicopter
He earlier said burn units at hospitals in Indore, Bhopal and the AIIMS in the state capital were directed to make necessary arrangements for any emergency.
Yadav called a meeting in connection with the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the tragic incident and also stated that Rs 2 lakh would be provided to the families of the deceased.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) quoted Modi as saying, "Distressed by the loss of lives due to the mishap at a cracker factory in Harda, Madhya Pradesh. Condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is assisting all those affected."
"Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000," Modi was quoted as saying.
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences, he wrote on X, "The news of death of many people due to fire in Harda, Madhya Pradesh is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured."
In the videos, a major fire with intermittent explosions could be heard taking place at the site.
The initial reports said several people are trapped inside the factory, while ambulances reached the spot immediately.
The personnel from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) also arrived at the spot.
Fire brigades were also rushed from Indore and Bhopal to tackle the blaze.
Soon after the explosion occurred, Harda district Collector Rishi Garg said the rescue operation is underway at the site of the incident.
"The fire broke out at a firecrackers factory in Harda. Several people, approximately 20-25 people, were injured in the blast. Rescue operation is underway. SDRF and NDRF teams have also been called," said Garg.
The cause of the explosion has not been revealed yet, as per latest reports.
