Deadly Explosion at Illegal Firecracker Factory in Rajasthan Claims Seven Lives
A catastrophic explosion at an illicit firecracker manufacturing facility in Bhiwadi town, located within Rajasthan's Khairthal-Tijara district, resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals and left four others with critical injuries on Monday, according to official reports.
Early Morning Blast in Industrial Zone
The devastating incident occurred around 9 am within the Khushkheda industrial area of Bhiwadi. Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises, officially registered as a garment factory, was being used for the illegal production of firecrackers.
"The premises was leased out in the name of a garment factory but, as per the preliminary report, firecrackers were manufactured illegally," stated Sumitra Pareek, Additional District Magistrate of Khairthal-Tijara.
Five Victims Identified as Bihar Migrant Workers
In a heartbreaking development, five of the seven deceased workers were identified as migrants from Bihar's East Champaran district. The Bihar Chief Minister's Office confirmed this information through an official communique.
"Five of the seven deceased persons hail from Bihar's East Champaran district," the CMO statement read, highlighting the interstate implications of this industrial tragedy.
Bihar Government's Response and Compensation
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound sorrow over what he termed an 'extremely tragic' incident, offering deep condolences to the families of the five Bihar natives who perished in the explosion.
The Chief Minister announced immediate relief measures, including:
- Ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the five deceased Bihar workers from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund
- Directives to officials to coordinate with Rajasthan authorities for proper arrangements to bring the mortal remains back to Bihar
- Instructions to the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to establish necessary coordination with the Rajasthan government
Victim Identification and Family Accounts
East Champaran District Magistrate Saurav Jorwal confirmed that two of the five Bihar victims have been positively identified as Sujan Kumar and Mintu Kumar, both natives of Narulla village under Shikarganj police station. The identities of the remaining three workers are still being verified by district authorities.
Sujan Kumar's father, Shivji Paswan, shared his family's anguish with reporters: "Sujan lived in Rajasthan with his entire family for the last three years. My sister (Sujan's bua) also lives there. She called around 10 am over the phone and informed me about the incident. She said an explosion occurred in the factory and Sujan was burnt alive."
Rescue Operations and Forensic Challenges
The explosion was discovered during a routine police patrol, prompting immediate launch of rescue operations. The scene presented horrific challenges for rescue teams, with bodies severely burnt to the point of being reduced to skeletons and body parts scattered across the site.
Rescue personnel collected the remains in polythene bags, while forensic teams collected DNA samples to establish positive identification of the victims due to the extensive charring of the bodies. Officials confirmed that only five workers have been identified so far through this painstaking process.
Illegal Operations and Safety Concerns
The incident has exposed serious regulatory failures, with authorities confirming that the factory was operating illegally as a firecracker manufacturing unit despite being registered as a garment facility. This revelation raises significant questions about industrial safety oversight and the monitoring of potentially hazardous operations in industrial zones.
The tragedy underscores the vulnerability of migrant workers who often seek employment in such hazardous, unregulated establishments, highlighting the urgent need for stronger interstate coordination on worker safety and industrial regulation enforcement.
