Agencies | Ahmedabad:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the devastating factory blast and fire in Ahmedabad and announced financial assistance for the victims from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said he was “extremely saddened” by the incident and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident.
Announcing ex gratia relief, Modi said the next of kin of each deceased victim would receive ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF, while those injured would be provided financial assistance of ₹50,000 each.
“The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected by the incident,” the Prime Minister said.
The announcement came after a major explosion followed by a fire at a firecracker factory in the Mahmudpura area of Ahmedabad claimed the lives of at least eight people and left five others injured on Saturday.
The injured were shifted to L.G. Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
Officials fear the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue inside the factory premises. Emergency teams are combing through the debris to ascertain whether more workers remain trapped.
Soon after the incident was reported, multiple fire brigade teams rushed to the site and launched firefighting operations. Rescue personnel are simultaneously conducting searches to ensure that no one is trapped inside the damaged structure.
The explosion triggered a massive emergency response, with several fire tenders, disaster response teams and local authorities deployed at the site to contain the blaze and assist in rescue efforts.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the blast. An investigation is expected to be launched once firefighting operations are completed and the area is declared safe.
The incident has once again raised concerns over industrial safety standards and compliance with fire safety regulations at hazardous manufacturing units, particularly those involved in the production and storage of firecrackers.
