Fri Jan 24 08:40:45 UTC 2025: **Bhandara Ordnance Factory Blast Kills One, Several Missing**
**Bhandara, Maharashtra, January 24, 2025** – A powerful blast at an ordnance factory in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district today resulted in at least one confirmed fatality and left at least 10 employees missing. The explosion, which occurred around 10:30 a.m., caused the roof of a factory unit to collapse, trapping workers inside.
According to police and local officials, a rescue operation is underway involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local fire services, and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. While initial reports suggested 13-14 workers were trapped, six have been rescued, with two succumbing to their injuries at local hospitals. The death toll stands at two as of this report, with eight or nine individuals still feared trapped under the debris.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the incident via X, stating that five individuals were initially rescued, and that the district collector and police superintendent are on-site overseeing the rescue efforts. The situation remains critical, and the search for survivors continues. The exact number of workers trapped or dead remains unconfirmed at this time, although the Bhandara Police Control Room reported recovering two bodies and six injured individuals. An investigation into the cause of the blast is expected to follow.
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