Gujarat CM announces Rs 4 lakh aid for families of Ahmedabad firecracker factory blast victims
Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad, July 18 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured following the explosion at an allegedly illegal firecracker factory in Ahmedabad's Vastral area that claimed at least five lives.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister described the incident as "extremely tragic" and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
"The news of the accident at a firecracker factory in Ahmedabad is extremely tragic. I pray to God to grant peace to the souls of those who lost their lives in this accident. I express my deepest condolences to their families," Patel said.
He said the local administration was extending all necessary assistance to those affected and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
"All necessary assistance and treatment are being provided to the affected by the local administration. I pray to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of the citizens injured in the accident," he said.
Patel also announced that the state government would provide an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 to every injured person.
The announcement came after a powerful explosion tore through a firecracker manufacturing unit on Ramol-Gatrad Road behind the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp in Vastral on Saturday afternoon.
The blast, which was heard several kilometres away, caused extensive damage to the factory and triggered a major fire.
RAF personnel stationed nearby were among the first to respond, rescuing people trapped under the debris before fire brigade teams reached the site.
Multiple fire engines were deployed to contain the blaze, which was later brought under control, while cooling operations continued.
The injured were admitted to L.G. Hospital and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment. Senior officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the city police supervised rescue and relief operations at the site.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the firecracker manufacturing unit was operating illegally.
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the cause of the explosion and the circumstances under which the factory was functioning.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences over the loss of lives and announced ex gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Very sad incident. My condolences to the families. But the CM and PM both announced compensation - total Rs 6 lakh per family. At least that's something. Hope the injured recover soon and the guilty are punished. 🙏
Why do we always react after tragedy? This factory was illegal - someone must have known. Where is the preemptive action? Our infrastructure for fire safety and industrial regulation is pathetic. 😤
Having lived in India for work, I've seen how these illegal operations pop up in residential areas. The blast was heard kilometers away - terrifying. Glad the RAF personnel acted fast. Hope this leads to systemic change.
The compensation is helpful but won't bring back loved ones. What about the children who lost parents? Education and long-term support should also be provided. Making such factories illegal is not enough - we need implementation.
Respectful criticism: While the aid is needed, this seems like a band-aid on a deeper problem. Why wasn't this illegal factory shut down earlier? The victims deserve justice, not just money. 😞
Kudos to the RAF team for the swift rescue. But such explosions are too common in unregulated units. We need a national
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