Police officers and officials at the scene after an explosion at a firecracker factory in Tonk Kalan area of Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh on Thursday (May 14, 2026). | Photo credit: PTI
The death toll rose to five after two more workers who were critically injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district on Thursday (May 14, 2026) died, while 23 others are undergoing treatment, officials said.
Dewas Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sanjeev Jain told PTI, “Two workers admitted to a private hospital in Dewas succumbed during treatment. This takes the total death toll to five.”
Officials said Anil Malviya, a licensed owner of a firecracker factory operating in the Tonk Kalan area, was arrested under strict provisions of the National Security Act (NSA).
Mr. Malviya’s firecracker license has been suspended, officials said.
The three workers who were injured in the fire were admitted to the Maharaja Yashwantrao Government Hospital in Indore.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited the hospital to inquire about the welfare of the victims.
He told reporters, “We have taken action against the owner of the firecracker factory under the National Security Act (NSA). We are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident and further action will be taken based on the investigation report.”
The Chief Minister said, “The state government will not spare anyone guilty in this case. This incident serves as a lesson and we hope it will not happen again.”
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Dewda said a judicial inquiry has also been ordered along with the arrest of the factory owner.
Additional principal secretary of the home ministry Sanjay Shukla said officials from the central government’s Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), the State Pollution Control Board and the Forensic Science Laboratory are investigating the blast at the firecracker factory.
District Magistrate Rituraj Singh said two licenses were issued to the owner of the Malviya factory to manufacture and sell firecrackers.
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He said: “These licenses were first issued on December 23 last year. They were renewed on May 6 this year.” According to Mr. Singh, the factory started manufacturing small firecrackers only 15 days ago.
Meanwhile, Congress president Jitu Patwari reached the spot and criticized the state government over the incident. Mr. Patwari said, “This incident shows that the gunpowder mafia, which imports raw materials from China, has established its dominance in the state.”
He alleged that the owner of the firecracker factory enjoys the patronage of leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Pan alleged that the firecrackers manufactured in the factory were illegally stored in agricultural produce warehouses and that more than 40 minor boys were working in the factory. He demanded the immediate suspension of the District Magistrate for its alleged failure to prevent irregularities in the factory.
Published – 15 May 2026 06:33 IST
