A blast occurred at the Ordnance Factory in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, injuring several employees and leaving one person unaccounted for.
The explosion happened during the remote-controlled disposal of explosive waste, a routine procedure at the facility that manufactures munitions for the Indian Army.
Officials reported that the blast was caused by a malfunction in the hydraulic system during the bomb-filling process in building 200 of the factory’s F-6 section.
The force of the explosion was so intense that it shattered windows in nearby structures and was audible up to five kilometers away.
Witnesses likened the experience to an earthquake, prompting many local residents to evacuate their homes.
Injured employees were promptly taken to a private hospital for treatment, with some requiring stitches for their injuries.
Rescue teams are currently on-site, searching for the missing person who may be trapped beneath the debris. The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m., and local authorities, including district administration and police, are investigating the cause of the explosion.
The Ordnance Factory has been in operation since 1943 and is a key ammunition production unit under India’s Department of Defence Production.
