Wed Apr 02 11:49:05 UTC 2025: **Gujarat Firecracker Warehouse Explosion Kills 21; Owners Arrested**
Deesa, Gujarat – A massive explosion at a firecracker warehouse in Deesa, Gujarat, on April 1, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 21 people. A forensic investigation has confirmed that aluminium powder, a component used in firecracker manufacturing, caused the devastating blast and subsequent fire.
Police arrested the warehouse owners, Deepak Mohnani and his father Khubchand Mohnani, on April 1st from the neighboring Sabarkantha district. They are charged with culpable homicide and violations of the Explosives Act.
According to Banaskantha district Superintendent of Police Akshayraj Makwana, the forensic science laboratory (FSL) found aluminium powder and yellow dextrin powder—both used in making firecrackers—at the scene. The force of the explosion propelled body parts hundreds of meters away, and falling debris crushed family members living on the premises.
While the godown initially had a license to *store* firecrackers, this license had expired on December 31, 2024, and was not renewed. Authorities now suspect that the owners were illegally *manufacturing* firecrackers on the premises. The investigation is ongoing, with police exploring the possibility of illegal manufacturing through analysis of bank records and call data. A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to thoroughly examine all aspects of the case. Police also noted that Deepak Mohnani had a prior arrest for alleged involvement in a cricket betting racket. The investigation will examine whether the presence of oxidizers, crucial to firecracker production, confirms illegal manufacturing. Despite aluminium powder being legally available, its ignition in a confined space, as in this case, can create a powerful explosion.
First Piper 