NAGPUR (2 March 2026) — Following the devastating explosion at SBL Energy Limited in Raulgaon on Sunday that claimed 19 lives, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has formally attributed the tragedy to gross negligence. Beyond the company’s management, the Minister asserted that accountability will be extended to the regulatory bodies responsible for industrial oversight, marking a significant shift in the investigation’s focus toward systemic failure.
Expanded Accountability: Regulatory Agencies Under Fire
During a high-level review on Monday, Minister Bawankule directed that officials from three key regulatory bodies be held responsible for the lack of safety enforcement:
- PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation): The central agency responsible for licensing and safety audits of explosive units.
- DISH (Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health): The state-level body tasked with inspecting industrial working conditions and machine safety.
- Labour Commissionerate: Accountable for monitoring workforce welfare and safety practice compliance.
Bawankule noted that despite recent safety audits in the district, the Raulgaon blast indicates a failure to verify actual ground-level safety protocols.
MD and Directors Taken into Custody
The Nagpur Rural Police have escalated their legal response, shifting the case from an accidental death report to criminal prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
- Key Arrests: Police have arrested 11 individuals, including the Managing Director (MD) of SBL Energy Limited and nine directors.
- Charges Filed: The accused are being booked under Section 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Section 106 (Death by negligence).
- Safety Lacunae: Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Harssh Poddar confirmed that a preliminary report by PESO and the Defence Information System for Security (DISS) identified critical “safety lacunae” in the detonator packing section where the blast originated.
Unprecedented Relief Package Approved
In a high-level meeting chaired by Bawankule, the state government and company management finalized one of the highest industrial accident relief packages in recent years.
| Recipient | Compensation Amount | Source |
| Families of Deceased | ₹82 Lakh (Total) | ₹75 Lakh (Company) + ₹5 Lakh (State) + ₹2 Lakh (PMNRF) |
| Injured Workers | ₹25 Lakh | Exclusively provided by SBL Energy Limited |
The company has also committed to bearing the full cost of medical treatment for the 23 injured workers, 13 of whom remain in critical condition. Furthermore, the factory has been sealed until the investigation is complete, though the company has been ordered to continue paying minimum wages to all 1,600 employees during the shutdown period.
Review of 2008 Safety Rules
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the injured at Orange City Hospital, announced that the state would move to strengthen the “outdated” 2008 safety protocols for explosives manufacturing. He emphasized the need for automation in high-risk zones like the “crimping” (packing) section to minimize human proximity to sensitive materials.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Nagpur blast: Probe points to company’s negligence…” (2 March 2026)
- The Hindu: “Nagpur factory blast: Nine directors of explosives company arrested” (2 March 2026)
- Times of India: “Blast Victims’ Families to Receive Rs82 Lakh Compensation After Katol Tragedy” (3 March 2026)
- DD News: “17 killed in Nagpur factory blast; PM Modi announces ex gratia” (1 March 2026)
- The Indian Express: “Women bear the brunt in Nagpur factory blast…” (2 March 2026)
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