Nagpur: In the aftermath of the devastating explosion that rocked SBL Energy Limited, the Nagpur Rural Police have launched an intense manhunt for 10 absconding accused, including the alleged mastermind behind the tragedy that claimed 19 lives.
The prime accused, Alok Choudhary, is believed to be the owner of the company where the deadly blast occurred. Police say Choudhary, a resident of Raipur, has been on the run ever since the case was registered, triggering a nationwide search to track him down.
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To prevent the accused from fleeing the country, authorities have issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Choudhary and nine other suspects. The alert has been circulated across immigration checkpoints at airports, seaports and land borders to ensure the fugitives are intercepted if they attempt to escape abroad.
Senior police officials revealed that preliminary investigations indicate that major operational decisions within the company were allegedly taken under the direct instructions of Choudhary, making him the central figure in the case. Police teams have already conducted searches at his residence in Raipur, but he managed to evade capture.
The blast, which ripped through the explosives manufacturing unit on Sunday morning, was so powerful that it triggered a massive fireball and flattened sections of the facility, leaving behind scenes of unimaginable devastation. According to investigators, the explosion occurred between 6 am and 7 am in the detonator and gunpowder section, where around 35 workers were on duty.
The force of the blast was so intense that parts of the building collapsed within seconds, trapping workers under debris and flames. Initially, 18 workers were reported dead and 24 others critically injured, many suffering severe burns and blast injuries. Several victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification extremely difficult for authorities.
Police said the scale of the destruction has raised serious questions about safety protocols and operational negligence at the explosives unit, as investigators continue to examine whether lapses in safety standards led to the catastrophic blast.
With the prime accused still at large, police have intensified their search operations across multiple states, vowing to bring all those responsible for the horrific tragedy to justice.
