At least five people lost their lives, and nine others sustained injuries in a powerful explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Ahmedabad’s Vastral area. The blast, which caused a major fire, led to a large-scale rescue operation. Authorities mentioned that the death toll might increase as search efforts continued.
The explosion, which occurred on Ramol-Gatrad Road behind the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp, was so intense that it was audible up to five kilometers away and caused significant damage to the building. Firefighters reported that the structure suffered extensive destruction, trapping multiple workers under debris.
Personnel from the nearby RAF camp promptly responded to the incident, rescuing individuals stuck beneath the rubble before the arrival of fire brigade teams. Over five fire engines were deployed to control the blaze, which was eventually contained, with ongoing cooling operations to prevent further outbreaks.
The injured were promptly taken to nearby hospitals such as L.G. Hospital and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Many victims were admitted with burn injuries and trauma, while rescue teams continued scouring the affected premises for any remaining individuals.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector-2) Jaipal Singh Rathore informed that five individuals had succumbed to the incident, with eight to nine others rushed to hospitals for treatment. He also mentioned that the fire had been brought under control and clarified that the establishment was not large in scale.
Senior civic and police officials, including Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officers, Zone-8 Deputy Commissioner of Police Mayur Patil, and JCP Rathore, visited the site to supervise rescue and relief operations. Preliminary investigations suggested that the firecracker unit was operating without legal authorization.
Reports indicated that the operator, identified as Mehul Dodiya, was allegedly continuing manufacturing activities despite the factory’s license being revoked earlier. Authorities have initiated inquiries into both the explosion’s cause and the unlawful functioning of the unit. As rescue operations persisted, the identities of several victims were still being confirmed.
