Page 2 - Blast

Blast at Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 missing, feared dead: Sheriff

An explosion at a Tennessee military munitions plant Friday left 19 people missing and feared dead, authorities said. Humphreys Count Sheriff Chris Davis said it was one of the most devastating scenes he's ever seen. He did not specify how many people were killed but referred to the 19 missing as souls and said officials were still speaking to family. The blast, which people reported hearing and feeling miles away, occurred at Accurate Energetic Systems in rural Tennessee. The company's website says it makes and tests explosives at an eight-building facility that sprawls across wooded hills in the Bucksnort area, about 97 km southwest of Nashville. The cause of the explosion, which Davis called devastating," was not immediately known, and the investigation could take days, the sheriff said. Aerial footage of the aftermath by WTVF-TV showed the explosion had apparently obliterated one of the facility's hilltop buildings, leaving only smoldering wreckage and the burnt-out shells of .

Explosion in Kanpur market: Police arrest six, seize illegal firecrackers

About 100 quintals of illegal firecrackers worth over Rs 50 lakh have been seized and six persons arrested after an explosion triggered by illegal storage of crackers left eight people injured in a market here, police said on Friday. The extensive crackdown on illegal firecrackers across the city has been initiated after a massive explosion rocked the congested Mishri Bazaar area here on Wednesday, leaving eight people injured and two scooters damaged. Police said the explosion took place due to illegal firecracker storage, and denied links to any terrorist activity. "We have raided simultaneously in multiple areas, including Moolganj, Fazalganj, Govind Nagar and Naubasta following inputs about large-scale storage of fireworks in densely populated areas," Commissioner of Police (Kanpur) Raghubir Lal told PTI on Friday. "After the Moolganj blast, we activated the entire district police. Acting on inputs, we raided several locations and seized huge quantities of illegal firecrackers,

Kanpur blast due to illegal firecrackers storage, no terror links: Police

The massive explosion in the congested Mishri Bazaar near a mosque here was caused due to illegal firecracker storage, and not because of scooter explosion which was initially suggested as the reason for the incident, top police brass confirmed on Thursday. In a press conference, the Kanpur Police also denied links to any terrorist activity in the explosions. The CCTV footage reviewed by investigators revealed that the blast was triggered by a cardboard box kept outside a toy shop, not by any vehicles. It occurred in front a toy shop on the Meston Road, damaging two parked scooters and nearby shops and injuring at least eight people. Commissioner of Police (Kanpur) Raghubir Lal confirmed that the explosion was purely accidental and caused by illegal stocking of fireworks. "No evidence of any terrorist organisation or extremist involvement has been found. This was an accident caused by illegal firecracker storage," he said. "We have categorically dismissed the claims falsely linkin

US H-1B visa fee clarification eases tech sector concerns, impact deferred

At least one person died and eight others were injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker store room in Odisha's Boudh district on Sunday, police said. The incident took place around noon at a firecracker godown at Jiakata-Chhatrapur under Purunakatak police limits in Harabhanga block of the district. The blast was so powerful that the store room was reduced to rubble. The injured were rushed to the Purunakatak Community Health Centre with the help of locals. "The deceased was identified as Laxmindra Behera (40), of Chhatrapur village under Purunakatak police station area. Eight others were injured in the incident," Boudh SP Rahul Goel told reporters. The SP said a massive rescue operation was launched with the help of local police, fire service personnel, ODRAF, bomb squad, scientific team, and dog squad, as it was suspected that some people might be under the debris. "Huge quantities of illegal explosive substances were stored. The hunt for suspects is going on, and furth

Bulgaria arrests Russian ship owner wanted in 2020 Beirut port blast case

Bulgarian authorities confirmed on Tuesday they have arrested a Russian ship owner wanted in Lebanon whose vessel is linked to a cargo of ammonium nitrate at the centre of the massive 2020 port explosion in Beirut. Igor Grechushkin, 48, was arrested at Sofia International Airport on September 6 upon arriving from the Cypriot city of Paphos, according to Zdravko Samuilov, head of the border police at the airport in the Bulgarian capital. Grechushkin, who holds a dual Russian-Cypriot citizenship, did not resist arrest, cooperated, and nothing suspicious was found in his luggage, the police chief said. The arrest, which was first reported by Lebanese officials on Tuesday, was based on an Interpol red notice. Following a court order, Grechushkin was placed in detention for a maximum of 40 days, Samuilov said. Bulgaria has also requested the necessary documents for Grechushkin before he can be extradited to Lebanon. A Lebanese investigative judge issued two arrest warrants through Inter

At least 1 killed, 17 injured in blast at explosives company in Nagpur

All the injured have been rushed to various private hospitals in Nagpur, with four reported to be in critical condition

2 killed, 20 injured as blast triggers fire at textile unit in Gujarat

At least two workers were killed and 20 others were injured after an explosion triggered a fire at a textile processing unit in Surat district of Gujarat on Monday, officials said. The condition of two workers is critical. The incident occurred at Santosh Textile Mill in Jolva village in the afternoon after a chemical drum exploded, said Sub Divisional Magistrate VK Pipaliya. "The explosion led to a blaze, resulting in the death of two workers on the spot and leaving 20 others injured. They are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Surat," Pipaliya told reporters at the site. He said the cause of the blast cannot be identified immediately. "Of the 20 workers who were admitted to hospital, two are in critical condition," he said, adding that at least 10 fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the blaze, which is still raging.

One killed in blast at illegal firework manufacturing unit in Kannur

One person died after a powerful explosion brought down an entire house, where explosives were allegedly being stored for preparing fireworks, at Kannapuram in this north Kerala district early Saturday morning, police said. The deceased has been identified as K Mohammad Asham of Challad here, who was inside the house when the explosion occurred. Police have registered a case against Anoop Malik, who had taken the house on rent. Asham was a distant relative of Malik, who is currently absconding, police said. It said that Malik was a supplier of fireworks and had been involved in a similar blast at a house in Podikundu in 2016, where explosives were illegally stocked. According to the police, the blast occurred around 1.50 am. "The intensity of the blast caused the entire structure to collapse and partially damaged four neighbouring houses," an officer from Kannapuram police station said. Police called in the bomb detection and disposal squad to clear the area of any remaining explo

At least one dead, three injured in Moscow shopping centre explosion

At least one person was killed on Sunday in an explosion at a prominent retail building in central Moscow, emergency services said. The blast happened on the third floor of the Central Children's Store shopping mall, on Lubyanka Square. Emergency services said the blast was caused by a gas cylinder, according to the state-owned RIA Novosti news agency. Two of the injured were hospitalised, Moscow's Department of Health said. City mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the incident was likely caused by a technical malfunction of equipment. The building was evacuated following the explosion. Russia's Investigative Committee has opened an investigation into the incident.

Fatal blast at US steel's Clairton plant sparks doubts over its future

The fatal explosion last week at US Steel's Pittsburgh-area coal-processing plant has revived debate about its future just as the iconic American company was emerging from a long period of uncertainty. The fortunes of steelmaking in the US along with profits, share prices and steel prices have been buoyed by years of friendly administrations in Washington that slapped tariffs on foreign imports and bolstered the industry's anti-competitive trade cases against China. Most recently, President Donald Trump's administration postponed new hazardous air pollution requirements for the nation's roughly dozen coke plants, like Clairton, and he approved US Steel's nearly USD 15 billion acquisition by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel. Nippon Steel's promised infusion of cash has brought vows that steelmaking will continue in the Mon Valley, a river valley south of Pittsburgh long synonymous with steelmaking. We're investing money here. And we wouldn't have done the deal with Nippon Steel if

Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 1 dead, dozens hurt

An explosion on Monday at a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh has left dozens wounded and people trapped under the rubble, with emergency workers on site trying to rescue them, officials said. There are no confirmed fatalities at the Clairton Coke Works, said Abigail Gardner, director of communications for Allegheny County. The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 am and that it has transported five people. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an active scene. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major US Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed

Two killed, 3 injured in blast at oxygen cylinder plant in Punjab's Mohali

Two persons were killed and three injured in a blast in an oxygen cylinder plant in Punjab's Mohali district on Wednesday, officials said. The incident took place at the unit located in the industrial area in phase-9 in Mohali. Senior officials of police and civil administration, including the sub-divisional magistrate, reached the spot to take stock of the situation. An official said there are two casualties and three persons are severely injured. The injured have been rushed to the Civil Hospital in Mohali.

7/11 Mumbai blast: HC acquits all 12, says prosecution failed to prove case

The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the conviction of 12 persons in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case and acquitted them, noting the prosecution has "utterly failed" to prove the case against them. The judgment comes 19 years after the terror attack that shook the city's Western Railway network, resulting in the loss of over 180 lives and leaving several others injured. A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak said the evidence relied by the prosecution was not conclusive to convict the accused persons. "The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence their conviction is quashed and set aside," the HC said. The bench said it refuses to confirm the death penalty imposed on five of the convicts and also the life imprisonment on the remaining seven, and acquitted them. The court said the accused shall be released from jail forthwith if not wanted in any other case. A speci

Telangana plant explosion: Sigachi used outdated machinery, says FIR

Sigachi Industries Ltd had been using outdated machinery and workers were compelled to operate it, the FIR registered against the management stated. The explosion at the firm's Pashamylaram unit two days ago left 36 dead and a nearly equal number injured. The Sangareddy police, based on a complaint by a family member of one of the victims, on Monday registered an FIR against the factory management in connection with the explosion under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempting to commit culpable homicide), and 117 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of BNS. "The complainant's father and other employees of the Sigachi company already informed the Sigachi Company management several times regarding change of machinery as they are too old and every possibility of danger may occur and cause heavy loss to the property and men," the FIR said. But those fell on the deaf ears of the company management, and they continued using the old machinery, as a result o

India factory fire death toll at 40, over 33 injured: Sigachi Industries

The government of Telangana has formed a five-member committee to probe the incident

8 killed in Sivakasi cracker unit blast, Tamil Nadu CM announces aid

The toll in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing factory in Sivakasi in the district on Tuesday rose to eight with three more workers succumbing. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who condoled the accident, announced solatium to the kin of the deceased. The devastating fire gutted the unit and left many injured, police said. Smoke that billowed from the factory as the firecrackers burst, could be seen from a distance. Police and fire and rescue services personnel who reached the spot rushed the injured to the hospital. The fire was later brought under control, a fire and rescue services official said. Revenue officials who arrived at the private firecracker manufacturing unit in Chinnakamanpatti near Sivakasi and police are inquiring into the incident. The deceased have been identified as R Mahalingam, C Chellapandian, K Lakshmi, R Ramamurthy, R Punyamurthy, K Ramajayam, M Nagapandi, and G Vairamani. Five persons are undergoing treatment at the Government Hospitals in Sivak

Sigachi factory blast, Delhi’s fuel ban, Crocs vs Bata, Liberty, & US sanctions on Syria

The death toll in the Sigachi Pharma factory blast in Telangana has risen to over 40. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to provide ₹1 lakh to the families of the deceased.

Govt, Sigachi to pay ₹1 cr compensation to blast victims: Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said his government will engage with the management of Sigachi Industries Ltd to ensure that a compensation of Rs 1 crore is paid to the kin of those who died in the explosion at the pharma plant in Pashamylaram. Reddy, who visited the blast site, said the toll from the explosion rose to 36. The CM also said those who are seriously injured will receive Rs 10 lakh, while those who are injured but can resume work after some recovery will be provided Rs 5 lakh. The state government will talk to the company management that Rs 1 crore each compensation will be paid to the deceased families. I have issued orders that from both the government side and company side Rs 1 Crore compensation will be paid, the CM said. Also, the state government will pay Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured to meet any immediate and emergency expenses. According to information provided by the officials, most of the deceas

T'gana govt slams Sigachi industries management's absence post deadly blast

The Telangana government on Tuesday gave a dressing down to the management of Sigachi Industries Ltd for its absence following a factory blast that claimed 35 lives in this district. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accompanied by Ministers Sridhar Babu, Damodara Raja Narasimha, G Vivek and P Rsinivasa Reddy visited the factory blast site and reviewed the situation with senior officials. The CM sought a comprehensive report on the incident, including details of past similar occurrences and preventive measures taken. The fatal blast and fire accident at a plant belonging to Sigachi on Monday left 35 dead and an almost equal number injured. Replying to the Chief Minister's query, a company official said the Founder and Executive Chairman of Sigachi was here on Monday. Reddy also pressed the company for an action plan regarding the compensation to the victims. Major accident has taken place. He (senior management) has to come. He has to visit the deceased person's families. You can no

Blast at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port kills 40, Khamenei calls for probe

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for a thorough investigation, urging security and judicial officials to identify any negligence