Two people have been arrested in connection with the firecracker factory blast in Madhya Pradesh's Halda district on Tuesday morning, leaving 11 people dead and over 170 injured, police said. The arrested suspects have been identified as Rajesh Agarwal and Somesh Agarwal.
Halda police chief Sanjeev Kanchan said another person was being questioned in connection with the blast incident. “We have taken into custody two persons named Rajesh Agarwal and Somesh Agarwal, residents of Sarangpur. They are under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to murder), “Another accused Rafiq Khan, who was booked on the basis of common intention, is also being investigated,” a police official told ANI.
He added that police were present at the incident scene and work to clear debris was underway. The blast took place after a fire broke out inside a firecracker factory in Harda's Bairagarh area on Tuesday morning.
The massive explosion filled the area with black smoke and shattered the windows of nearby homes and businesses. Dozens of nearby homes were burnt down in the incident. Local residents said it felt as if an earthquake had hit Halda. The explosion also set several vehicles ablaze.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met the injured admitted to Hamidia Hospital in the state capital Bhopal. “Of the 12 patients brought here, one lost his life. There are currently 11 patients. Two are undergoing surgery,” he said.
“We have seen nine patients. Rescue operations are underway. We have asked all districts to report on inspection of similar places. We will go to the spot tomorrow after the assembly. We have ordered an investigation. , appropriate action will be taken.''They will remember,'' CM Yadav told reporters. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
“A heartbreaking incident occurred in Halda. My condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace. CM held a meeting in this regard and a committee was also formed,” Scindia said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the loss of lives in the tragic Halda factory explosion and announced a solatium of Rs 200,000 to the next of kin of each deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. He also announced that Rs 50,000 would be provided to the injured.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of life in the accident at a cracker factory in Halda, Madhya Pradesh. My condolences go to all those who have lost loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. “The local administration is supporting all the affected people. Rs. 200,000 from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased person. Rs. 50,000 will be given to the injured,” the PMO said in a post on X. Stated. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

