Ahmedabad Illegal Firecracker Factory Blast: Death Toll Rises to 10; Two Accused Sent to 7-Day Remand

Ahmedabad: The death toll in the explosion at an illegal firecracker factory on the outskirts of the city has risen to 10 after another victim, who had suffered over 95% burns, died during treatment at Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, a metro court on Monday granted seven-day police remand to two of the three accused in the case, allowing investigators to question them till July 27.

The police had sought 14 days’ custody, arguing that the accused were not cooperating with the investigation. During the court proceedings, the judge asked the accused whether they had any complaint against the police, to which both replied in the negative.

Opposing bail, the government prosecutor told the court that the blast had claimed 10 lives and injured five others. Among those killed were four minors below the age of 18. One of the accused, Ramilaben, is currently undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries in the blast and could not be produced before the court. Police informed the court that the accused had been in custody since July 19.

Investigators told the court that the accused had allegedly been operating the firecracker manufacturing unit without the required licence. They argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to identify any other partners or financiers involved in the illegal business, trace the source of explosives, recover mobile phones and call detail records (CDRs), and determine whether explosives had been supplied elsewhere.

The police also want to reconstruct the crime scene and investigate whether any Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials were complicit in allowing the unit to function without a licence. During the hearing, the prosecution also referred to a 2014 explosion at a factory allegedly linked to accused Ramilaben, in which one person had died, claiming the factory had resumed operations despite being shut down earlier.

The defence, however, argued that the explosion was an accident and not a deliberate act. The defence lawyer told the court that most of the factory documents had been destroyed in the fire and claimed the accused had previously held a licence.

Meanwhile, Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi said five burn victims were admitted after the blast, including one woman and four men. The latest victim, who had suffered more than 95% burns, succumbed during treatment, taking the death toll to 10. Four injured persons remain admitted, with one woman, who has suffered more than 75% burns, continuing to be in critical condition.

Dr. Joshi said three patients are currently being treated in the burns ward. Two of them suffered 40% and 20% burns respectively and have undergone skin grafting using donated skin from the hospital’s skin bank. Plastic surgeons are closely monitoring their condition, while the third admitted patient is recovering well.

The explosion occurred on July 18 at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit operating from a sheet-metal shed on an open plot along the Ramol-Gatrad Road in Vastral. The blast was so powerful that it was heard several kilometres away, with the impact damaging nearby structures and setting surrounding fields on fire. Nine people, including children, had died in the initial explosion, while several others sustained serious burn injuries. The latest death has raised the toll to 10. DeshGujarat