Nagpur: A massive explosion at Solar Group’s defence and commercial explosives manufacturing complex in Chakdoh, near Bazargaon, left one worker dead and 10 others injured in the early hours of Thursday. The incident occurred around 12:30 am at the facility, located about 40 km from Nagpur, raising fresh concerns about safety lapses at one of India’s largest explosives producers.
The deceased has been identified as Mayur Ganvir, a resident of Chandrapur, who was inside a building on the premises when the blast occurred. Sources said he died after an iron rod pierced his body due to the shock impact. His post-mortem examination is currently underway at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur.
Police and eyewitnesses confirmed that the impact of the explosion was so powerful that debris of cement and heavy machinery was hurled onto the Nagpur-Amravati highway, disrupting traffic. Tremors were also felt across several nearby villages, where window panes and mirrors were shattered.
Among the injured are Kailas Verma, Manish Verma, Sunny Kumar, Arun Kumar, Atul Madavi, Saurabh Dongre, Tejas Bandhte, Suraj Gutke, Akhil Bawne, and Dharmpal Manohar. Two of them sustained serious injuries after being struck by flying debris. Seven remain in intensive care, while others are being treated for minor wounds.
Officials noted that a fire alarm triggered just before the explosion allowed several workers to evacuate in time, preventing a larger tragedy.
This marks the second deadly explosion at Solar Group’s manufacturing facility in two years. In December 2023, a devastating blast at the same site killed nine workers, including women.
Solar Group, which controls nearly 24 per cent of India’s explosives market, operates the world’s largest single-location cartridge manufacturing plant in Nagpur. The company manufactures bulk and cartridge explosives, detonators, and detonating cords, and has been expanding into defence production. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Loitering Munition Test Range at Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd, a Solar subsidiary.
In an official statement, a Solar Group spokesperson said, “Today, 04.09.2025 at 12.33 AM, there was an explosion in the Crystallization Building while performing crystallization process of an energetic material in Solar Industries India Ltd, Chakdoh. The deluge system was activated and people in the area were evacuated as per emergency protocol before the explosion took place. However, due to the shock impact, one person died and eight others were injured. First aid was given, and the injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment. All buildings were cleared and evacuated as per safety protocol.”
Despite repeated incidents, questions continue to mount over accountability and enforcement of safety norms at the facility. With lives lost and damage spreading across nearby villages, locals and industry watchers are demanding stricter oversight and responsibility from both the company and regulatory agencies.
