NAGPUR: The Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Sunday that state government will grant Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who died in the explosion at an explosives factory in Nagpur’s Raulgaon.The blast, which occurred at SBL Energy Limited under the Nagpur Rural police limits, claimed 17 lives and left 18 others injured. The injured have been taken to hospitals in Nagpur for treatment.According to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office, the company involved will also provide financial support to the families of the deceased, in addition to the assistance announced by the State government.Describing the incident as deeply distressing, Fadnavis said the administration responded without delay. District officials and senior police officers reached the scene soon after the explosion. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with officials from PESO and DISH, are currently at the site.In a statement posted on X, Fadnavis said, “The incident of the explosion at an explosives factory in Raulgaon in Nagpur district is extremely unfortunate and tragic. I am in constant contact with the local administration. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police have reached the incident site immediately. NDRF and SDRF teams are also at the site. Teams from PESO and DISH have arrived. Rescue operations have been accelerated, and so far, 17 people have lost their lives. I pay heartfelt tribute to the deceased. We share in the grief of their families. In this incident, 18 people have been injured. The injured have been promptly shifted to Nagpur. I pray at the feet of God for their swift recovery”An eyewitness told media, “I tried to pull out as many people as I could… We put them in our own cars to rescue them”, he said.Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Harssh Poddar confirmed the number of casualties and stated that those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the explosion.
