At least 11 people lost their lives, and 174 others were injured, in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, February 6. Two owners of the firecrackers factory were arrested by the police in the evening, hours after the tragic incident, officials said. They were booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges, after an FIR was filed against them, they said.
Another person was detained in connection with the incident that occurred earlier in the day in the Bairagarh locality on Magardha Road on the outskirts of Harda town, approximately 150km from the state capital, Bhopal.
The two factory owners -- identified as Rajesh Agrawal and Somesh Agrawal -- were arrested from Sarangpur in Rajgarh district, while one more person named Rafiq Khan was detained in the evening, Harda Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kanchan told reporters.
These accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), he said.
The incident took place in Bairagarh locality on Magardha road on the outskirts of Harda town, about 150 km from the state capital Bhopal. A number of people were also feared trapped in and around the unit, according to Harda Collector Rishi Garg.
Some videos of the incident surfaced on social media showing the fire with intermittent explosions taking place at the site and people running to save themselves.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, expressed deep concern over the incident. He said that swift measures were taken, with over 50 ambulances dispatched to the scene, alongside the deployment of around 400 police officials and other key personnel.
After the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting and said the Army was being contacted to arrange for helicopters for the rescue work. "I spoke to the officials concerned and sought details of the incident," he said. The Centre been informed about the incident, he added.
CM Yadav also assured immediate assistance to the victims' families, declaring, "We will provide ₹4 lakh to the families of the deceased and the injured will be given free treatment."
Condolences poured in from across the country led by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The news of the death of many people due to fire in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
Prime Minister Modi, while announcing an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, said he was distressed by the loss of lives.
"Condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is assisting all those affected," Prime Minister's Office posted on X.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Uday Pratap Singh conducted an aerial survey of the factory. Singh provided crucial updates, confirming the relocation of the injured to medical facilities in Hoshangabad and Bhopal. He said that a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is actively engaged in the operation under the guidance of SDRF ADG, coordinating rescue and relief efforts on the ground.
Singh also visited the District Hospital in Harda to meet with the injured, offering support and solidarity.
Meanwhile, fire tenders were being sent to Harda from Bhopal, Indore, Betul, Hoshangabad, Bhairunda, Rehti and other urban bodies and institutions. Burn units in hospitals in Indore, Bhopal and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state capital were directed to make necessary arrangements for any emergency, an official said.
First Published: Feb 6, 2024 3:26 PM IST
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