Palanpur (Gujarat), April 1 – A devastating fire broke out at a firecracker warehouse near Deesa town in Gujarat's Banaskantha district on Tuesday morning, leading to the deaths of 18 people and injuries to five others. The blaze, followed by a powerful explosion, caused parts of the building to collapse, trapping many inside.
According to Superintendent of Police Akshayaraj Makwana, the incident occurred around 9:45 AM. Most of the victims were laborers from Madhya Pradesh and their family members. The majority of the fatalities were caused by the collapse of a concrete slab triggered by the explosion. He clarified that the facility was used solely for storing firecrackers, and there was no evidence yet to suggest that manufacturing activities were taking place on the premises. Earlier reports had mistakenly identified the facility as a factory.
As per agency report, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Taking to social media platform X, Patel described the incident as heartbreaking and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He stated that he is in constant contact with the local administration and has directed officials to ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured.
Patel further prayed for peace for the departed souls and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also expressed grief over the loss of lives of workers from his state and assured full support to the victims and their families. He confirmed that the Madhya Pradesh government is in continuous coordination with authorities in Gujarat and that all necessary efforts will be made to assist those affected by the tragedy.
