A tragic explosion at an aluminium plant in Nagpur’s Umred MIDC area on Friday night claimed the lives of at least five workers, with ten others sustaining severe burn injuries. The incident occurred at the MMP Limited plant, located approximately 60 km from Nagpur, where 87 workers were present during the explosion.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Harsh Poddar, the explosion took place in the polished tubing unit of the factory. The blast ignited a massive fire, rapidly spreading across the plant, where workers were operating machinery used to polish aluminium foil with raw aluminium powder. The highly flammable nature of the aluminium powder intensified the flames, making it extremely challenging for firefighters to control the blaze. Fire brigade units worked tirelessly for over 15 hours to bring the fire under control, but by noon, the flames had not been fully extinguished.
Local authorities have confirmed that two workers died while receiving treatment at a hospital, while the bodies of three workers were recovered from the factory premises the following morning. The deceased workers have been identified as Nikhil Nihare (24), Nikhil Shende (25), Abhishek Jangad (20), Piyus Vasudeo Durge (21), and Sachin Purushottam Masram (26). Of the ten injured, seven remain in critical condition. The injured were rushed to government hospitals, including the medical college in Nagpur.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scenes of workers fleeing for safety as flames erupted moments after the explosion. Local police and fire department personnel promptly initiated a rescue operation. Authorities have sealed off the area, restricting access to the factory premises as investigations into the cause of the explosion continue.
The factory’s chairman-cum-managing director, Arun Bhandari, confirmed that the injured were being treated at local hospitals, while the district collector, Vipin Itankar, who visited the site, stated that the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
This incident marks the second industrial explosion in the region this year, following a deadly blast at the Bhandara ordnance factory earlier that claimed eight lives. MMP Limited, which began operations just before the pandemic, had paused its operations during the lockdown. The plant also runs operations in Butibori, producing auto components, and in Bhandara, manufacturing aluminium products for ordnance factories in Madhya Pradesh. However, the company’s defense supply accounts for only a small portion of its total output.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about safety protocols in industrial plants, especially in high-risk sectors such as the aluminium and explosives industries. As investigations unfold, authorities are urging for stricter safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Sources By Agencies
