'Water break saved me from blast that killed my brother in India'

In a tragic incident in Gujarat, India, a man named Rajesh Nayak experienced a devastating loss when an explosion occurred at the firecracker warehouse where he worked. On Tuesday morning, Rajesh stepped outside to take a water break, and moments later, a powerful explosion ripped through the building, resulting in the deaths of 21 people, including his brother. Rajesh, who suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized, expressed his grief, stating, 'Some of my other relatives have also died. I had come to work here only from Sunday. ' Most of the victims were from the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh and had recently started working at the warehouse, which was located in an industrial area of Banaskantha district. Their families lived in nearby huts, and some of them were also killed or injured due to the explosion's force. Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel informed BBC Gujarati that among the victims were four women and three children. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but officials are looking into whether firecrackers were being manufactured illegally at the warehouse. 'Primary information has been received that the explosion took place when firecrackers were being made here,' said Mr. Patel. India has strict regulations regarding firecracker production, but these rules are often not enforced effectively, leading to frequent accidents, especially in illegal factories. This incident in Gujarat occurred just a day after another explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in West Bengal, which resulted in the deaths of eight people. In response to the explosion in Gujarat, police have arrested two men, the owners of the warehouse, and are searching for a third individual. A special investigation team has been established to look into the incident. Banaskantha district police chief Akshay Raj Makwana stated that a preliminary investigation revealed that aluminum powder was stored in the building. 'This powder is non-explosive but flammable and easily available in the market. We are investigating the supply chain and how the accused sourced such material,' Mr. Makwana explained. Mr. Patel also mentioned that the building had been registered as a warehouse for storing firecrackers, but its license had expired in December. When a team inspected the area in March, the building was found to be empty. When BBC Gujarati reporters visited the site on Tuesday, they noted a strong smell of sulfur in the air. The explosion caused extensive damage, destroying the warehouse and a wall of an adjacent factory. Large concrete slabs were thrown up to 300 feet away. Mr. Makwana reported that a slab in the building collapsed, trapping workers underneath. The powerful blast also destroyed surrounding huts, resulting in the deaths of some family members of the workers. A sanitation worker who assisted at the site shared his experience, stating, 'My heart sank when I saw a child's body. ' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, expressed his condolences to the victims' families and announced financial assistance to help them during this difficult time.