Harda factory stored excess explosives beyond license limit

PTC News Desk: A tragic incident unfolded at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Harda, where 11 lives were lost in explosions on Tuesday. Investigations revealed that the factory stored a higher quantity of explosives than permitted by its license, according to the Harda Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

The aftermath of the explosions left over 170 individuals injured, prompting the arrest of two factory owners, Rajesh Agrawal and Somesh Agrawal, from Sarangpur in Rajgarh district. Though the exact cause of the blasts remains unknown, the owners face charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against them.

The initial blast was succeeded by a series of explosions, with the deafening sound audible up to 20 to 25 km away. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the site, located in the Bairagarh locality on the outskirts of Harda town. As rescue efforts commenced, footage shared by news agency ANI depicted a team of firefighters and rescue personnel at the scene. Meanwhile, Rafiq Khan, believed to be the factory manager, was detained for questioning by the police.

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Eyewitness accounts described a grim scene, with several bodies scattered amidst the debris, while reports of missing persons surfaced in the aftermath of the explosion-cum-blaze. Social media circulated videos capturing the harrowing moments of the incident, portraying intermittent explosions as individuals scrambled for safety.

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(Inputs from agencies)