A catastrophic explosion ripped through a firecracker factory in Deesa, Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, on Tuesday morning, April 1, 2025, claiming at least seven lives and leaving several others feared trapped.

The blast, reported around 9:30 AM IST, triggered a ferocious blaze that brought down parts of the building, plunging the industrial area into chaos as rescue operations raced against time.

Banaskantha Collector Mihir Patel confirmed that five workers perished instantly, with the death toll climbing to seven as debris was cleared. “The explosion was massive—the RCC slab collapsed entirely,” Patel said, noting four injured workers were rushed to hospitals.

Firefighters from Deesa municipality, backed by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), doused the flames and began sifting through rubble, where more victims are suspected to be buried. Over 200 personnel, including police and district officials, are on-site, supported by five fire engines and ambulances.

The factory, owned by Khubchand Sindhi, reportedly stored volatile materials that detonated, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Locals described a deafening blast that shook the ground, with flames and smoke sparking panic among nearby residents.

This tragedy echoes past incidents—10 died in a Tamil Nadu fireworks blast in 2024—highlighting persistent safety lapses in India’s firecracker industry. As rescue efforts continue, authorities face mounting pressure to probe how such a disaster unfolded in a bustling industrial zone.