Maharashtra: 17 persons killed in blast at explosives factory in Nagpur

In Maharashtra, at least 17 persons were killed in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Nagpur district on Sunday morning, police said. The blast took place at the SBL Energy Limited factory, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer, at Raulgaon in Katol tehsil.Representatives of SBL Energy Limited said that the incident occurred at the company’s detonator packing unit between 7 am and 7.15 am.The injured were shifted to a hospital in Nagpur immediately after the blast, the police said. A company official said rescue operations were underway. The company manufactures explosives, detonators, and associated materials that are Nagpur Collector Vipin Itankar says, "This blast took place when 30-35 people were working in the morning shift. We have received confirmation of about 10-12 bodies, and the SDRF NDRF teams are working to recover the bodies, shifting the injured to the hospital, deciphering the cause of the incident... We have cleared the entire area and the experts are working."

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Nagpur Collector Vipin Itankar says, "This blast took place when 30-35 people were working in the morning shift. We have received confirmation of about 10-12 bodies, and the SDRF NDRF teams are working to recover the bodies, shifting the injured to the… https://t.co/Kouw8TlDCx pic.twitter.com/S5sYRGCywp

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2026

The company manufactures explosives, detonators, and associated materials that are mainly utilised in mining activities and infrastructure development. It functions under a unified management system and is regarded as an important entity in the industrial explosives industry. Officials said the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined. A detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain how the blast occurred and whether safety protocols were followed at the facility. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed at the site to assist local authorities in rescue and recovery operations. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis have expressed grief over the incident. Teams from PESO and DISH have arrived. Rescue operations have been accelerated, and so far, 17 people have lost their lives, he said.

नागपूर जिल्ह्यातील राऊळगाव येथे स्फोटकांच्या एका फॅक्टरीत झालेल्या स्फोटाची घटना अतिशय दुर्दैवी आणि दुःखद आहे.
मी स्थानिक प्रशासनाशी सातत्याने संपर्कात आहे. जिल्हाधिकारी, पोलिस अधीक्षक हे तातडीने घटनास्थळी पोहोचले आहेत. एनडीआरएफ, एसडीआरएफचे पथक सुद्धा घटनास्थळी आहे. ‘पेसो’ आणि…

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) March 1, 2026

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also took to X and wrote: The tragic and unfortunate incident of the death of 17 workers in a horrific explosion at SBL Energy, a explosives manufacturing company located in Rautlgav village in Katol in Nagpur district, is extremely heartbreaking. My heartfelt tribute to the deceased workers. My condolences are with their families. May the injured recover health soon—this is my prayer at the feet of God.