A devastating explosion at the Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) in Jabalpur on Tuesday morning has claimed the lives of two employees and left over ten others with burn injuries. The condition of two critically injured workers remains grave, and they are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
The blast took place in building number 200 of the factory’s F-6 section during routine bomb-filling procedures. Initially, one employee was reported missing, but his body was later discovered at the site. Another worker succumbed to injuries while receiving medical treatment.
Following the incident, factory management and key officials, including the General Manager of OFK, arrived at the scene and initiated a detailed investigation. However, no official statements have yet been issued to the media concerning the cause of the explosion or the status of the inquiry. Local MLA Ashok Rohani also visited the hospital to check on the condition of the injured workers.
Initial reports suggest that a sudden malfunction in the hydraulic system may have triggered the explosion during the bomb-filling process in the F-6 section. The injured workers were first rushed to the OFK hospital for immediate care. As their condition worsened, three severely injured employees—Randhir, Shyamlal, and Chandan—were transferred to a private hospital for specialized treatment.
Authorities are now investigating the precise cause of the explosion and focusing on whether any safety protocols were breached or if negligence played a role in the incident.
The explosion was so powerful that it caused alarm among residents living within a five-kilometer radius of the factory. Nearby areas such as Manegaon, Champanagar, and Nanak Nagar reported hearing a thunderous sound, which some initially mistook for an earthquake. A resident of Manegaon, described the intensity of the blast. He said he felt that an earthquake had occurred before it became clear that the explosion had originated at the factory.
The investigation into the cause of the tragedy is ongoing, as officials work to uncover what led to this fatal accident. Authorities are expected to release more details once the inquiry progresses.
