Wed Apr 02 06:33:01 UTC 2025: ## Gujarat Firecracker Warehouse Blast Kills 21, Owner Arrested

**Deesa, Gujarat, April 2, 2025** – A massive explosion and subsequent fire at an illegal firecracker warehouse in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district on April 1st, 2025, claimed the lives of 21 people and injured six more. The blast, which occurred around 9:45 a.m., completely destroyed the Deepak Traders godown near Deesa town. The intensity of the explosion was such that body parts were scattered up to 200-300 meters from the site.

All victims were identified as workers from Madhya Pradesh’s Harda and Dewas districts, with DNA testing underway to confirm the identities of two individuals. The incident also resulted in the deaths of family members living on the same premises, crushed by falling debris.

Police swiftly responded, arresting the warehouse owner, Deepak Mohnani, in the neighboring Sabarkantha district on Tuesday night. Authorities confirmed that firecrackers were being illegally stored and manufactured at the godown. Deepak Mohnani and his father Khubchand Mohnani were named as owners of the facility. Inspector General of Border Range Chirag Koradia confirmed the arrest of the primary suspect. The investigation into the tragic event is ongoing.

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