A powerful explosion at the SBL Energy Limited explosives manufacturing unit in Raulgaon near Katol in Nagpur district on Sunday morning killed 18 workers and injured 24 others, triggering panic across the region and raising serious questions about safety practices at the facility.

The blast occurred shortly after work began and sparked a massive fire inside the factory. Police said the explosion took place between 6 am and 7 am in a section where detonators and gunpowder used for mining are produced. Around 35 workers were present in the unit at the time of the incident.

 

 

 

 

 

According to officials, the accident took place at plant number 16-B of the company near Envira village in Raulgaon village under Kalmeshwar police station limits. Of the 35 workers present, 32 were women and three were men. The deceased include two men and 16 women. Preliminary information suggests that a box containing detonators slipped from the hands of a female worker at around 6.45 am. Within seconds, a sudden explosion occurred. The impact was so severe that the woman was reportedly thrown nearly 30 feet upward, hitting the roof and died on the spot due to severe burns. What followed was even more devastating. Investigators believe the initial blast triggered a chain reaction as other explosive materials stored in the plant caught fire one after another. Massive secondary explosions continued for nearly an hour, completely destroying the unit. 

 

 

The blast was so powerful that the factory shed and walls were violently ruptured and shattered. Large portions of the roof collapsed and several structural sections crumbled under the force of the explosion. The entire plant suffered extensive damage. “The impact indicates a very high-intensity explosion. The structure has been almost flattened in parts,” a senior police officer at the scene said. The deafening sound of the blast echoed across the entire premises and was heard several kilometres away. Residents of nearby villages rushed out of their homes in panic after hearing the loud explosion and seeing thick black smoke rising into the sky. An eyewitness described the scene as horrifying. “There was fire everywhere. The blast was so strong that bodies were badly mutilated. Some victims had severe limb injuries,” the witness said. 

 

 

As the explosions continued, many workers inside the plant were trapped under falling debris and flames. The walls and roof of the unit collapsed, burying several workers under the rubble. Police and rescue teams fear that the final toll could have been even higher if the blasts had continued longer. Emergency teams combed through the debris for hours to ensure no one remained trapped. Kalmeshwar Police reached the spot immediately after receiving information and launched relief operations. Social activist Mangesh Game and his team also rushed to the site with two ambulances and helped shift the injured to hospitals. Nagpur Rural Superint-endent of Police Dr Harssh Poddar confirmed the severity of the incident.

 

“We received information early in the morning about a major explosion at the SBL unit. Our teams reached the spot immediately. Rescue and fire control operations were launched without delay,” he said. He added that a detailed investigation has begun. “The exact cause of the explosion is under investigation. We are examining all angles, including safety compliance and handling procedures.” District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar also visited the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, and directed officials to ensure proper treatment and identification of victims. 

 

 

All seriously injured workers were rushed to hospitals in Nagpur, including Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) and GMCH. According to hospital authorities, most patients have suffered severe mixed thermal burns covering 30% to 80% of their body surface area, along with splinter injuries from the blast. Doctors reported that some patients are experiencing hearing loss or deafness due to the impact, while others have mechanical surface wounds and long bone fractures. “All patients are critical and admitted in the ICU. They require urgent operative interventions and intensive care,” the hospital said in its medical status report. The OCHRI trauma team was activated immediately to handle the sudden influx of victims. Hospital officials said their primary aim is rapid stabilisation of patients and prevention of secondary complications. Out of the 24 injured admitted at Orange City Hospital, 18 are women and six are men. Two female patients are reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining patients are said to be clinically stable but under close observation.

 

 

The explosion left behind a devastating trail. Many bodies were completely charred and beyond recognition, making identification extremely difficult. According to police information, a total of 22 packets containing bodies and body parts were received at the mortuary of Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, by 4:30 pm. 

 

 

By 6 pm, postmortem examinations had been completed on 16 cases — including 12 females, three males, and one case involving only body parts. Authorities have started DNA profiling to confirm identities. Relatives of 15 deceased persons have already provided samples at the Department of Forensic Medicine in coordination with the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Nagpur. Officials said further identification will depend on DNA results and recovery of additional remains. 

 

 

The deceased have been identified as: Ganesh Tonge, Premdas Bagde, Raju Kulmati, Shobha Check, Payal Gajbhiye, Sangeeta Panchbhai, Anusaya Patil, Durga Gaikwad, Joshna Shende, Mangeshree Yes Kar, Sunanda Chichkhede, Sangeeta Kalmegh, Meena Uike, Gopi Kothe, Pratibha Walke, Sunita Salame, Varsha Tekam, and Gayatri Shende. (Officials said verification of some identities is still underway through DNA analysis.) 

 

 

Durga Manoj Ghate (31), Vaishali Ganesh Satai (40), Sujata Vinayak Rakshit (35), Usha Revatkar (43), Kajal Kaurti (38), Manisha Dhurve (42), Veena Uike (45), Jyoti Dhurve (21), Sunita Uike (35), Ranjana Ghagre (36), Vaishali Dhurve (30), Seema Dhurve (27), Roshni Mate (32), Ritu Salame (20), Amrapali Kalasarpe (36), Durga Sewatkar (42), and Roshni Deepak Masram (32), among others. 

 

 

Residents of Raulgaon and surrounding areas said the blast created widespread panic. Many people initially feared it was an earthquake or a major industrial disaster. “The sound was terrifying. Our houses shook,” said a villager living nearly three kilometres from the site. Thick black smoke continued to billow from the factory for hours, visible from long distances. 

 

 

Authorities have launched a detailed probe to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Police and technical experts are collecting samples and examining whether mandatory safety norms were being followed at the explosives unit. “We will investigate every aspect — storage, handling, and safety compliance,” a senior official said. The tragedy has raised serious concerns about worker safety at high-risk industrial units in the region. Meanwhile, heavy police security remains deployed at the site as rescue, forensic, and identification procedures continue. Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.

 

 

The SBL company, owned by Sanjay Chaoudhary and his two brothers, has its office at 230, Hill Road, Da Rock Building, 2nd Floor, Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur. The company issued a statement saying the incident occurred in the packing area of the facility, where no active manufacturing operations were underway at the time. The company said the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation and that it is fully cooperating with the concerned authorities. It also stated that, in coordination with local authorities, SBL is providing immediate financial assistance and bearing the full cost of medical treatment for the injured. According to the statement, emergency response protocols were activated immediately after the incident, and the situation is now under control. 

 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday announced financial assistance for families affected by the deadly blast at the SBL Energy Limited factory near Nagpur. Expressing grief, Modi said the explosion was “deeply distressing.” In a post on the PMO’s X account, he conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person. He said the local administration is extending all necessary help. Fadnavis also described the incident as “extremely unfortunate and heartbreaking.”

 

He announced Rs 5 lakh assistance from the State Government to the families of those who died. He added that the company concerned will also provide financial support. The Chief Minister said he is in constant touch with the administration and that the District Collector and Superintendent of Police reached the spot immediately. Teams of NDRF and SDRF were deployed, along with officials from PESO and DISH. He paid tribute to the deceased and assured full support to their families.

 

He also ordered a detailed inquiry into the blast. Meanwhile, close relatives of the victims have been taken to Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, for DNA sampling to help identify the badly charred bodies. Distressed relatives were seen outside the SBL factory in Katol, about 50 km from Nagpur, waiting for confirmation about their loved ones. Authorities said rescue and investigation efforts are continuing.