At least 17 people died and 18 were injured when an explosives factory blew up in Nagpur, in India’s western state of Maharashtra, on the morning of Sunday, March 1, 2026.
The plant belongs to SBL Energy Limited, a maker of mining and industrial explosives, and sits at Raulgaon in Katol tehsil. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force reached the site to run the rescue. A company official said a statement would follow. The injured were taken to a hospital in Nagpur straight after the blast, and the District Collector, Vipin Itankar, and the Superintendent of Police, Harrsh Podar, went to the scene.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X that the explosion was “extremely unfortunate and tragic”. “Rescue operations have been accelerated, and so far, 17 people have lost their lives,” he said, adding that 18 were hurt. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it “deeply distressing” and wished the injured a speedy recovery. An investigation has been ordered. Nagpur lies about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the state capital, Mumbai.
It was the second deadly factory blast in India in two days. On Saturday, 21 people were killed at a firecracker factory in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh. Last year, a fireworks factory explosion in western India also killed 21.
Industrial accidents are common in India. News reports often blame disregard for safety requirements and lax enforcement.
Sources
- At least 17 dead, 18 hurt after explosives factory blast in India
- At least 17 killed, 18 injured in Nagpur factory blast
