Bemetara Blast: 1 Dead, 6 Injured; Chhattisgarh CM Announces ₹5 Lakh Ex-Gratia

In Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara, an explosion at an explosive factory on Saturday morning resulted in one fatality and injured at least six others, as reported by news agency ANI. In response, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered an investigation and announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh for the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai posted on X, stating, “Orders have been given for a magisterial inquiry into the explosion at the gunpowder factory in Borsi village of Bemetara district and to provide financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured. The injured are being brought to Raipur for proper treatment. High-level monitoring of relief and rescue operations is being done at the spot.”

According to Bemetara collector Ranbir Sharma, as quoted by the Hindustan Times, the explosion occurred in the unit near Pirda village in the Berla development block. “Police and rescue teams were rushed to the site after the incident. The employees of the unit have been evacuated, and the situation is under control,” Sharma said, adding that fire brigade teams and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were deployed at the scene.

The injured were admitted to Dr. BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur. “Six persons injured in the blast were taken to Dr. BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur for treatment. One person was brought dead,” the hospital’s public relations officer, Shubhra Singh, told the media.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, as reported by ANI, stated, “There has been a blast in an explosive factory in Bemetara. Investigation is underway. The Superintendent of Police is on the spot. More details will be revealed soon.”

Another Deputy Chief Minister, Arun Sao, provided additional details, saying, “A major explosion has been reported at a gunpowder factory in Borsi, Bemetara. I am in contact with the administration. The entire team, including the SP and Collector, is present at the site of the incident. It is confirmed that a significant explosion has occurred, and there is a possibility of further explosions. Fire trucks and other relief teams have arrived. Rescue and relief operations have commenced rapidly.”

Sao further explained, “The injured are being sent to Raipur for proper treatment. The administration’s full team is dedicated to rescue and relief efforts, prioritizing quick relief for the people. The explosion has resulted in a large pile of debris. Official information is still forthcoming, but those injured are being referred to Raipur hospitals, with some being sent to Mekahara and others to AIIMS. The administration is focused on ensuring proper treatment for the injured.”

Local media reports indicate that around 100 people were working in the explosives manufacturing factory when the blast occurred.