Punjab: 23 killed, 27 injured in Batala firecracker factory explosion

The factory sits on the banks of the 100-foot-wide Hansi drain. While the drain flowed in front of the factory, at the back it had residential units. There was car garage on the left and a computer centre separated by a narrow lane on the factory’s right side. Both the computer centre and the garage nearby were badly damaged.

The firecraker making unit, built over 20 marlas (roughly 4450 sq ft), also had two schools within a 100 metre diameter.

Around 40 persons were working or present inside the factory at time of the blast. Apart from manufacturing, the unit also sold firecrackers.

Among the dead were five persons who were just passing by at the time of the blast. Similarly, at least six injured were either working in the nearby car garage or at the computer centre. The firecracker factory was being run by three brothers. One brother lived in the factory premises along with his family.

The incident took place around 4 pm at the factory located in a residential area. (Express photo: Rana Simranjit Singh)

“Five of the dead and six injured don’t belong to the factory. Other dead and injured were either working or living in the factory,” said Lakhwinder Singh, a senior police officer on spot.

Teams of the NDRF, the SDRF were deployed along with fire brigade in the rescue operation soon after the tragedy.

The blast shook the city that was getting ready to welcome the procession from Sultanpur Lodhi to celebrate the marriage anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

The work in the factory was on full swing for the last two days for this event. The religious procession from Sultanpur Lodhi was scheduled to reach Batala tonight. The whole city was decorated and factory owners were supposed to display fireworks as the procession crossed the bridge of Hansi drain near the factory on Wednesday night.

“Like every year, they were working round the clock for last two days to meet the demand for fireworks for religious procession and Diwali and Dusshera festival coming ahead. They used to work under three trees in premises of the factory. In the room where the blast took place, there were machines to fill gunpowder in crackers,” said Manjeet Kaur, wife of a worker Balkar Singh, who is missing after the blast.

The three shops-cum-factory rooms in the factory turned into a heap, and part of roof of a new house, constructed in factory premises just a year back, was hanging in air after the explosion. The blast was so strong that it pushed some cars in the drain.

Expressing shock and dismay at the fatalities in the incident, the CM tweeted: “Deeply anguished to learn about the loss of life due to the blast in the firecracker factory in Batala. Rescue operations are underway with the DC and the SSP heading relief efforts.”

Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol too expressed grief over the incident. “Saddened to hear about the news of blast in Batala factory. NDRF teams and local administration have been rushed for rescue operation,” Deol said in his tweet.

A government statement said that CM Amarinder Singh had directed the Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa to immediately rush to the spot to oversee the relief and rescue operations. Also, ADC (Batala) was directed to conduct the inquiry into the tragic incident, the statement added.

NDRF and SDRF were present at the site of the incident. (Express photo: Rana Simranjit Singh)

The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those severely injured. He has announced Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

Amarinder directed both the civil and police administration of Gurdaspur district to extend all possible help to the victims’ families in this hour of grief. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, to provide the best possible treatment to the injured free of cost, besides asking Batala SSP to supervise the evacuation operations being carried out by the NDRF teams.

Teams of the NDRF, the SDRF were deployed along with fire brigade in the rescue operation soon after the tragedy. (Express photo: Rana Simranjit Singh)

However, at ground zero, there was no one designated from the administration to provide information to families of victims who were reaching there looking for their loved ones.

“My brother-in-law Shamu has died. I have seen his dead body in hospital. But I don’t know where is my husband Vicky. No one is telling me,” said Seema, who had come from Fatehgarh Churian with her two children. Both brothers worked at the factory.

“My husband Balkar is missing. Nobody is telling me where he is,” said Manjeet Kaur, adding that Balkar lived inside the factory premises.

Many residents from the locality who had narrow escape said they had witnessed similar blast two years back. They alleged that the administration took no action after the previous incident.