India: 21 Dead in Explosion at Illegal Fireworks Factory in Gujarat
At least 21 people have lost their lives and five others have been injured following a violent explosion at an illegal firework factory in Deesa, located in the state of Gujarat in northwestern India, local authorities reported on Tuesday.
The explosion was so powerful that it caused the concrete roof of the factory to collapse, according to Rishikesh Patel, a spokesperson for the Gujarat government. He also stated that the factory was operating without official permission. The blast scattered debris, including stones and metal, across a wide area. Mihir Patel, a local district official, mentioned that body parts of the victims were found 200 to 300 meters away from the site of the explosion, on a nearby farm.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact causes of this tragedy.
Unfortunately, explosions in firework manufacturing facilities are common in India, where these products are extensively used during weddings and festivals, particularly during Diwali, the renowned Hindu festival.
Similar incidents have occurred in recent years. In 2023, an explosion in a factory in Madhya Pradesh resulted in 11 fatalities. In 2019, two separate explosions killed 18 people in Punjab and another 10 in Uttar Pradesh.
