Rajasthan: 2 Killed in Blast at Gunpowder Godown in Nagaur; Walls of Nearby Houses Develop Cracks

Nagaur: Two young men were killed on the spot in a powerful explosion at a gunpowder godown in the Badli area of Nagaur city on Thursday morning, while others were seriously injured. The blast cracked the walls of nearby houses and damaged vehicles parked within about 100 feet.

The incident is said to have taken place at around 9.40 am. On receiving information, police from Kotwali police station and fire brigade vehicles reached the spot. Firefighters worked to bring the fire under control, while police began relief and rescue operations. Two seriously injured young men were also found during the rescue and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Bus Windows Shattered, Cracks in Houses

The impact of the blast was also felt on houses and vehicles around the spot. All the windows of a bus parked about 100 feet away were shattered. Cracks appeared in the walls of nearby houses. Hearing the loud noise, a large number of local residents rushed to the spot. Police controlled the crowd and continued relief and rescue work.

Blast at a gunpowder godown in Nagaur. Photo: Patrika

Number of People Present in Godown Being Ascertained

Information is being gathered on how many people were present in the godown at the time of the accident. Two deaths have been confirmed, while two seriously injured people have been found. The identities of the dead and the actual cause of the explosion are not yet known. Teams of police and the administration are inspecting the entire site.

Locals Say Gunpowder Was Made by Mixing Potassium Nitrate

Locals said gunpowder was prepared at the godown by mixing potassium nitrate. A stock of ready-made firecrackers was also kept in one part of the godown. According to preliminary information, the owner of the godown is named Amin. He is said to hold a permanent licence for firecrackers. However, there is no official confirmation of how many firecrackers the licence permitted him to keep, or how much gunpowder and explosive material was stored at the spot.