A devastating explosion and subsequent fire ripped through the Bhandara Ordnance Factory on Friday morning, leaving at least eight workers dead and seven injured. The incident occurred between 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM at the RK Branch section of the facility in Jawahar Nagar, Bhandara district in Vidarbha Region of India’s Maharashtra.

According to the media reports, the roof of the section collapsed, where14 workers were present at the time of the blast. The cause of the explosion remains unknown and is currently under investigation. The debris is being cleared with earthmovers and rescue ops are underway.

An official defense PRO statement confirmed the deployment of rescue and medical teams and assured that further details would be released as they become available.

The affected section housed raw materials used in the production of RDX pellets and other crucial chemicals. Rescue and medical teams were immediately deployed to the site, and efforts to contain the fire and recover any remaining casualties are ongoing.

The Bhandara Ordnance Factory is a renowned establishment in the defense sector, specializing in the manufacture of explosives and chemicals. Its product range encompasses a wide array of materials, from acids and high explosives to various propellants. The factory is known for its production of single-base and double-base propellants, as well as high explosives and their compounds, which play a vital role in propulsion and energetic applications.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to social media X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the tragic news and expressed their condolences for the deceased.

This tragic incident has shaken the local community and highlighted the inherent risks associated with working in the defense and manufacturing sectors.

This is a developing story; we will update this space as and when more information gets available.