A forensic investigation has revealed the presence of aluminium powder and yellow dextrin powder—both key ingredients in firecracker production—at the site of a massive fire in Deesa, Gujarat, that claimed 21 lives on April 1, police officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Explosive Materials Detected at Fire Site
According to Banaskantha Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana, forensic experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed the presence of these substances at the warehouse where the fire broke out. These findings have raised suspicions that firecrackers were being stored—and possibly manufactured—at the site, though the accused warehouse owners have denied this.
“We have found aluminium powder and yellow dextrin powder. A detailed investigation is underway to determine whether firecrackers were being manufactured here. We are also checking for the presence of oxidizers, which are crucial for firecracker production,” SP Makwana stated.
Warehouse Owners Arrested While Fleeing
The police arrested warehouse owners Khubchand Mohnani and his son Deepak Mohnani from Sabarkantha district as they were trying to escape to Madhya Pradesh. They have been booked under multiple sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the Explosives Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
Reports indicate that the warehouse’s license to store firecrackers expired on December 31, 2023, due to safety violations, yet operations allegedly continued.
SIT Formed to Investigate Incident
In response to the tragedy, the Gujarat government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the fire incident. The SIT will be led by Bhavin Pandya, Secretary of Land and Reforms, Revenue Department. Other members include:
- Vishalkumar Vaghela, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gandhinagar
- HP Sanghavi, Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Gandhinagar
- J.A. Gandhi, Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department
The SIT is expected to investigate possible safety lapses, illegal firecracker storage, and negligence that led to the devastating fire.
Sources By Agencies
