Ahmedabad Firecracker Factory Blast Kills Five, Several Injured

A massive explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Ahmedabad’s Vastral area killed five people and injured nine others on Saturday, officials said.

The blast triggered a major fire and forced authorities to launch an extensive rescue operation.

The incident occurred at the factory situated on Ramol-Gatrad Road, near the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp.

Officials continued search efforts at the site and warned that the number of casualties could rise.

The explosion created a loud impact that residents could hear several kilometres away. The force of the blast severely damaged the building and trapped several workers beneath the collapsed debris.

RAF personnel stationed nearby immediately reached the location after hearing the explosion and started rescuing people before the fire brigade teams arrived.

Firefighters deployed more than five fire engines to battle the flames. The teams later controlled the fire and continued cooling operations to avoid any further flare-ups.

Rescue teams shifted the injured victims to nearby hospitals, including LG Hospital and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Several people suffered burn injuries and trauma, while medical teams provided emergency treatment.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector-2) Jaipal Singh Rathore confirmed that five people had died, while eight to nine injured individuals were admitted to hospitals. He also stated that authorities had brought the fire under control.

Several senior officials, including Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation representatives, Zone-8 Deputy Commissioner of Police Mayur Patil, and other police officers, visited the site to oversee rescue and relief work.

Investigators identified Mehul Dodiya as the person operating the factory and found that authorities had previously cancelled its licence, although production allegedly continued.

The police have launched a detailed investigation to identify the reasons behind the explosion and determine responsibility for the illegal operation.