Authorities have reported that gelatin sticks stored in the house of Rajendra Kumar Kaswa exploded, though it remains unclear whether he possessed the proper license to store them. The tragic incident unfolded in Petlawad town of Jhabua district, where at least 88 individuals lost their lives, with another 70 sustaining injuries, following the explosion near a bustling bus stand on Saturday morning.
This catastrophe comes shortly after another tragedy in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, where 11 individuals perished and 174 others were injured in a massive fire at a firecracker factory. The factory, which had been operating without a valid license and adequate safety measures for over two decades, had previously applied for license renewal under the Explosives Act in 2017. Despite the factory’s history of accidents, including previous explosions in 2017 and 2021 resulting in fatalities, its license was renewed until 2022.
Notably, there have been allegations of political influence surrounding the factory’s operations, with accusations of attempts to sway district administration decisions in favor of reopening the factory despite safety concerns. The factory owners, Rajesh Aggarwal and Somesh Aggarwal, along with another individual, Rafiq Khan, have been arrested in connection with the recent explosion.
The aftermath of the blast in Harda resembled an earthquake, with black smoke engulfing the area and windows of nearby structures shattered by the force of the explosion. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as residents fled the area, while numerous homes and vehicles were consumed by the ensuing flames. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited the injured at Hamidia Hospital in the capital and vowed to scrutinize similar establishments across the state to prevent future tragedies.
