At least eight people died and 80 were injured Tuesday when a large explosion at a fireworks factory in central India sent a fireball into the sky, authorities said.
Images broadcast by Indian television channels showed flames rising high into the sky after the explosion at this factory in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh state. Dozens of ambulances were sent to the scene to evacuate the injured.
Rajeshwari Mahobia, a senior police officer in the district, told AFP that there had been “eight deaths and about 80 injured” so far, adding that “the number of deaths is likely to rise.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said doctors in burns wards of nearby major hospitals have been asked to “make necessary preparations”.
“Ambulances are being flown to Harda from surrounding areas and the Army has been contacted to arrange for helicopters to be dispatched,” Mr Yadav said in a post on social network X, formerly Twitter.
At least 20 ambulances were at the scene and 50 more were dispatched to help the injured, he added.
Manish Sharma, a surgeon at the Harda district hospital, reported a large influx of injured people. “We have eight deaths in our hospital, a total of 90 people have been admitted here so far and we have transferred 15 of them to a larger hospital,” he told AFP. “As more and more people are rescued from the site, they are brought here.”
About fifteen fire engines are being deployed against the large fire, which is not yet under control, said Kailash Chand Parte, a senior district official who is coordinating the factory's rescue efforts.
About 200 to 300 people worked at the factory, but it was unclear how many were inside at the time of the explosion, he added.
“At least 10 buildings around the complex where the explosion occurred were damaged due to the intensity of the explosion,” the official described.
Deadly rush
Victims died in a “scramble that followed the explosion,” said Abdul Raees Khan, a local police officer, quoted by the Times of India, adding that rescue teams “had not yet reached the site of the explosion.” in progress.
Explosions often occur in fireworks and firecracker factories in India.
Fireworks are very popular in the country, especially during the Hindu festival of Diwali and wedding celebrations. However, many factories do not respect basic safety standards.
In 2019, a fireworks factory explosion in Batala, Punjab, killed at least 18 people, and 10 others died in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh state the same year.