Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Nagpur factory blast was a result of Maharashtra government`s negligence that led to the loss of live of 19 people, reported the PTI.
The blast at an explosives manufacturing unit in Nagpur district has sparked sharp political criticism in the Maharashtra Assembly.
The blast occurred on Sunday morning at the detonator assembly unit of SBL Energy in Raulgaon, Katol tehsil. Eighteen workers died on the day of the incident, while one more succumbed to injuries on Monday. At least 23 others were injured, according to the PTI.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar termed the incident “tragic and shocking” and accused both the state and central governments of negligence.
Raising a suspension motion in the assembly, Wadettiwar claimed that 43 workers have died in similar explosions at various factories in Nagpur district over the past one-and-a-half years. He said 25 of the deceased in these incidents were women.
Referring to Sunday’s explosion, he stated that most of the victims were women labourers earning around Rs 300 per day.
“Do the lives of the poor have no value for this government?” he asked during the debate.
Demand for safety audits and accountability
Wadettiwar alleged that repeated requests for comprehensive safety audits of explosives factories had been ignored. He claimed that no concrete steps were taken by either the Maharashtra government or the Centre to prevent such tragedies.
He also questioned the role of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), noting that its office is located barely 10 kilometres from the blast site.
In addition, he raised concerns about the functioning of the factories inspectorate and the labour department, asking why strict action had not been taken despite recurring incidents.
Compensation not enough: Congress
While compensation of Rs 15 lakh or Rs 50 lakh has been announced for the families of the deceased, Wadettiwar said financial aid cannot replace lost lives. He added that affected families are seeking stronger assurances of safety rather than monetary relief.
He further pointed out that even basic infrastructure, such as a proper road leading to the factory, was lacking.
Taking note of the seriousness of the matter, the Assembly Speaker said the issue would be discussed in detail through a calling attention motion by Friday.
The incident has once again raised concerns about industrial safety standards and regulatory oversight in Maharashtra’s explosives manufacturing sector.
(with PTI inputs)
