Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced ex gratia assistance for the victims of the firecracker factory explosion in Ahmedabad’s Vastral area, where at least five people were killed and several others injured. The Prime Minister expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
In a message shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi said he was deeply saddened by the incident at the fireworks factory and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. He said the local administration was providing all possible assistance to the victims and their families during the difficult time.
The Prime Minister announced that an ex gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased victim. Those injured in the explosion will receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000, according to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
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The explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon at a firecracker manufacturing unit located on Ramol-Gatrad Road behind the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp in Vastral. The blast caused significant damage to the factory premises and was reportedly heard several kilometres away, prompting an immediate emergency response from RAF personnel, firefighters, and police teams.
Rescue operations were launched soon after the incident, with teams searching through the debris for trapped individuals and shifting injured victims to hospitals. Fire brigade personnel deployed multiple fire engines to control the blaze, while cooling operations continued at the site. The injured were admitted to L.G. Hospital and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment.
Police officials said preliminary investigations indicated that the factory was allegedly operating illegally. Investigators are examining claims that the unit continued manufacturing firecrackers despite the cancellation of its licence, with authorities identifying the operator as Mehul Dodiya. A detailed probe has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the explosion and identify possible safety lapses.
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