Father-Son held for Gujarat firecracker factory blast that killed 21

The investigation into the devastating firecracker factory explosion in Deesa, which claimed 21 lives, has uncovered shocking details of deliberate negligence by the accused father-son duo, Khubchand Mohanani and Deepak Mohanani. Authorities revealed that the duo had converted the illegal fireworks unit into a potential death trap by instructing workers to keep its shutters closed at all times to evade official scrutiny, leaving little chance of escape in case of an accident.
According to survivor Rajesh Nayak, a laborer from Madhya Pradesh, the hazardous conditions inside the unit made a catastrophe inevitable. A forensic examination confirmed that the presence of highly combustible aluminum powder was responsible for triggering the deadly blast, police said on Wednesday. Banaskantha Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana stated that an FSL team also found yellow dextrin powder in the warehouse, further indicating unsafe storage practices.
Police arrested Khubchand Mohanani from Sabarkantha district on Tuesday night, while his son Deepak had been arrested earlier the same day, Makwana said. Investigators noted that the duo lacked the required license to operate a fireworks godown, making their operations unlawful and highly dangerous.
Meanwhile, the deceased victims, many of whom hailed from Madhya Pradesh's Harda and Dewas districts, will be cremated in their native villages on Thursday. One victim, a young boy, was never fully recovered from the debris, with only his severed head counted among the deceased, officials confirmed. The incident has raised serious concerns over illegal firecracker manufacturing units operating without regulatory oversight, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement and safety measures. Authorities continue their probe into the tragedy.

(State Correspondent)