Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday described the explosion that occurred at an explosives factory in Nagpur district as “very tragic and unfortunate” and said that a detailed investigation has been ordered into the incident.
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At least 17 people were killed and 18 others injured in the blast at the detonation packing unit of SBL Energy Limited, a mining and industrial explosives factory, at Rawalgaon in Katol tehsil, officials said.
Fadnavis said in a statement that orders have been issued to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the explosion.
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The Prime Minister said that he is in constant contact with the local administration, and that the district collector and police supervisor rushed to the scene immediately after the explosion occurred.
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He added that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and Defense Information Security System (DISS), were at the site and conducting rescue operations on a war footing.
The Prime Minister expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
He added that the injured were immediately transferred to Nagpur where they were provided with the best possible medical care, and prayed to God for their speedy recovery.
