‘I tried running to her, But I was held back’: Families wait for a glimpse — or a body — after Nagpur blast

When the explosion tore through the packing unit at SBL Energy Limited on Sunday morning, Vijay Dhurve (28) was working in another building within the same premises.

“My wife was working in the unit where the accident happened, while I was in another unit — FH14. When I heard the explosion and came to know about the accident, I tried to run towards the spot,” he said, his voice heavy with worry.

“But my supervisor held me back. He didn’t let me go. He said, ‘Your responsibility is on me.’”

His wife, Seema, is now battling for life at the Orange City Hospital in Nagpur, where all the injured were taken.

The couple travel every day from Zilpa village to the factory by the company bus. On Sunday, like other mornings, they reported for duty. Within minutes of the shift beginning, the blast ripped through the women-staffed packing unit.

Vijay said that in the immediate aftermath, an angry crowd assaulted the supervisor inside the premises. “I went quiet only after a friend told me that Seema was in the ambulance and had been taken to the hospital,” he said.

Nearby, their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Swarali, played unaware of the crisis unfolding around her. Inside Orange City Hospital, Seema’s parents waited anxiously for updates.

At the Orange City Hospital, where nineteen injured workers were brought, corridors filled quickly with families seeking information, some hoping for recovery, others bracing to receive bodies.

Most sustained severe thermal burns covering 30 to 80 per cent of their bodies, along with splinter injuries. Some are experiencing hearing loss, while others have mechanical wounds and long bone fractures. All are critical and require urgent surgical intervention and intensive care, hospital authorities said.

At Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC), where the deceased were sent, families gathered outside the mortuary, aware that identification would take time. Officials said 22 packets containing dismembered remains had been brought from the site. DNA analysis is underway, and relatives have been told they may have to wait at least 48 hours before claiming the bodies.

Mala Kulmethe (35) stood outside GMC, waiting to receive her husband Rajendra Kulmethe’s body.

“You tell me, what should I do now?” she asked, her voice breaking.

“My husband and I both worked at the company. When the blast occurred, I was in the ED crimping unit, while he was in the NONEL crimping unit. As soon as I heard the explosion, I ran. But our supervisor asked us to leave the premises for safety,” she said.

“Everyone later ran back, trying to save those who were stuck inside the unit. I searched for him there. When the situation became clearer, I was told that my husband’s body had been brought here, to GMC.”

She arrived with a few police officials and her 17-year-old son. She joined the company in 2018; her husband, who had worked as a driver earlier, joined in 2022. Since then, she has been waiting outside the mortuary.

Before anyone can respond to her question, she answers herself quietly: “I will wait here.”

“She used to say, ‘What should I do sitting idle?’”

At the entrance of Orange City Hospital, Mangala Salam clutched her bag and mobile phone tightly as she waited for news of her 20-year-old daughter, Ritu Salam.

“She used to say, ‘What should I do sitting idle at home?’ That’s why she started working at the company,” Mangala said.

Her husband, Anandrao Salam, Ritu’s father, also works at the same company. On Sunday, father and daughter rode together on a motorcycle to a nearby shop before boarding the company bus to the factory.

Mangala said she was told the shift had barely begun when a fire broke out and quickly spread inside as the girls tried to run out. She held on to one detail — that Ritu was able to speak after the incident.

That, she said, was enough to believe her daughter would survive.

An agitated crowd

At one point, tensions flared at the hospital as family members confronted authorities, alleging that they were not being allowed to meet the injured.

Dr Mohit Ghapure, an intensivist, addressed the gathering and explained that only one family member per patient would be permitted to visit, subject to strict safety protocols. He asked them to wear masks and wash their hands before entering. Treatment activities resumed soon after.

Sagar Botare, the Upa-Sarpanch of Panchdhar village in Katol, accompanied 19-year-old Rupesh Uikey, whose mother Sunita Uikey is in critical condition.

“Suddenly, the blast occurred and everyone started running. They did not allow us to go there. In the end, I somehow found my mother, I sat in the ambulance with her and came here. I work in Plant No. 14. Doctors say her condition is serious,” Rupesh said.

As families moved between ICU doors and the mortuary gates, some waiting for recovery and others for identification, grief and uncertainty settled heavily across the hospital grounds.

Outside Orange City Hospital, Meena Dhurve sat on the footpath, waiting for permission to see her 24-year-old daughter, Mayuri.

“Doctors told me Mayuri has burns all over her body. They said she also has multiple fractures,” Meena said. “Another woman working at the company informed us about the tragedy. Since 10 am, we have been sitting outside the hospital.”

Beside her, Mayuri’s father, Harichandra Dhurve (50), stood silent. “We told her not to work at the explosives factory. He jokhmicha kaam aahe, sodun de (It is risky work, leave it),” he said. “But she would always say, ‘Just two more years, and then you can marry me off.’”

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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