Palghar: A major explosion inside a makeshift firecracker manufacturing unit in Konsai village of Palghar’s Wada taluka killed one worker and left four others injured on Tuesday afternoon. One of the injured is critical. The firecracker unit had been operating illegally from an old farmhouse covered with a tin shed. Police have arrested three persons in the case, including the factory owner. A case has also been registered under relevant sections of culpable homicide and explosives act against five accused. The Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) visited the site along with revenue officials and the Palghar Superintendent of Police. According to preliminary information, the unit had started operations recently on April 10, confirmed the officials. Raw materials for firecracker production were reportedly being brought in on a daily basis, and local labourers were hired on a daily wage basis. Gunpowder used at this manufacturing unit was stored illegally, confirmed a source. At the time of the incident, around 32 workers from nearby villages of Jamghar, Konesai, Palasai and Alman were present inside the unit, many of whom were being trained for the work. The deceased has been identified as Bhavesh Dilip Vavre (resident of Jamghar, Wada). The injured were rushed to Wada Rural Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Three of the injured have been shifted to Gandhe Hospital, while one critically injured worker has been admitted to Bhiwandi Rural Hospital. Fire brigade teams, along with the tehsildar, chief officer and police officials, rushed to the spot and initiated rescue and investigation operations. Sources confirmed the blast was so huge that one of the limbs of the deceased had separated from his body. Seeing this, the sister of the deceased fell unconscious and was taken to the hospital, where she was monitored and then discharged.Palghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Yatish Deshmukh said, “We have registered FIR against five people, including the land owner.” He also confirmed that three accused — the landowner, person running the daily operations and the firecracker manufacturing unit owner (Narendra Singh) — were arrested. Deshmukh said initial inquiry confirmed similar operations were carried out by the previous owner of the unit from whom Singh took over.
