Maharashtra CM Confirms 19 Fatalities in Nagpur SBL Energy Blast; MD Among 11 Arrested
Nagpur, March 2, 2026 — The death toll in the devastating blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district has risen to 19. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the updated casualty figures today, stating that 23 other workers remain critically injured.
The tragic incident occurred at the detonator packing unit of SBL Energy Limited, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer located in Raulgaon within the Katol tehsil.
The Incident
The powerful explosion took place on Sunday morning between 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM. According to police and company officials, the blast tore through the packing area, a section of the factory predominantly staffed by female workers.
The blast caused severe casualties, with many victims charred beyond recognition. Authorities have stated that DNA testing is currently underway to formally ascertain the identities of the deceased. The 23 injured workers are currently undergoing critical care at private medical facilities, including Orange City Hospital in Nagpur. Medical reports indicate the victims have sustained 30 to 80 percent thermal burns, alongside splinter injuries, mechanical wounds, and hearing loss.
Arrests and Investigation
Following initial reports from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) pointing to significant safety lapses, swift legal action has been taken.
Chief Minister Fadnavis informed the media that the Kalmeshwar police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 21 individuals associated with the company under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As of Monday, 11 people have been arrested, including the Managing Director and several board directors of SBL Energy Limited.
Push for Automation and Compensation
Addressing the tragedy, CM Fadnavis advocated for a complete overhaul of the safety protocols governing such sensitive establishments. Noting that even minor human errors can trigger massive tragedies in highly flammable environments, he stated that the state government will conduct a study to pitch for 100 percent automation in the manufacturing and packing of explosives, which will be submitted to the Centre for consideration.
Financial assistance has been announced for the victims across multiple levels:
SBL Energy Limited: ₹75 lakh to the families of each deceased and ₹25 lakh to every injured person.
State Government: ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Central Government: ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the deceased, and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Rescue and clearing operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have concluded, and a thorough forensic probe into the exact cause of the ignition is currently ongoing.
