Nagpur controversy: Exposing the real facts now!

An unfortunate incident of a blast explosion occurred in a manufacturing firm at Kotwalbudi in Maharashtra’s Nagpur on Sunday, killing two persons & several others injured in a blast. Upon receiving the news about the incident, fire engines were called from the nearby area. Ambulances were also deployed at the spot. A probe has begun to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Amid this, a Pakistani-based handle shared the video of this incident and claimed that two sikh employees remain missing after the incident, adding an unexpected layer to the unfolding situation.

An account named PSYWAR Bureau posted the video of this dreadful incident and wrote: “#BREAKINGNEWS
A mysterious explosion hit SBL Energy, a defense company in Kottwalbudi, Nagpur, India. Multiple casualties have been reported.

Notably, two Sikh employees remain missing after the incident, adding an unexpected layer to the unfolding situation”

Tweet reporting a mysterious explosion at SBL Energy, a defense company in Kotwalbudi, Nagpur, India 🇮🇳, with multiple casualties. The tweet highlights that two Sikh employees are missing, adding intrigue to the incident. A blurry video in the tweet shows smoke rising and chaotic scenes at the explosion site. — Link

Fact-Check

In the probe, the DFRAC team found that the facts shared in the claim seem to be manipulated.

We conducted a reverse-image search of the shared video that led us to the latest reports published by India TV, News Drum, The Tribune and PTI

A collage of news reports from various media outlets, including NewsDrum, Press Trust of India, India TV, and The Tribune, covering a tragic explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Nagpur. The headlines confirm that two laborers from Madhya Pradesh lost their lives, while multiple others were injured. Officials attribute the blast to coal powder heating in a blower. The image debunks misinformation and highlights the factual details of the incident.

As per reports, at least two people were killed & several others injured in a blast at an explosives manufacturing firm in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on Sunday. The explosion occurred at 1:30 PM at Asian Fireworks in Kotwalbudi, Katol tehsil, about 50 km from the district headquarters.

Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Apparently, information alleging that two sikh employees remain missing after the incident has not appeared in any latest report.

Furthermore, we received an official statement by mail from SBL Energy, a defense company, clarifying that the explosion occurred at Asian Fireworks,
In the mail, it was stated: “Statement on Behalf of SBL Energy Ltd

Nagpur, Maharashtra, February 16, 2025: We wish to clarify that the recent fire incident reported in the media did not occur at SBL Energy Ltd. The unfortunate explosion took place at Asian Fireworks, as confirmed by local authorities. Our manufacturing facility, located in Kotwalburdi, approximately 1.5 km- 2km* from the Asian Fireworks facility, remains unaffected by this unfortunate event. Some reports have incorrectly associated our company with the incident, and we kindly request that any such references be corrected.

At this challenging time, our priority remains supporting emergency responders and assisting efforts to manage the situation effectively.

We remain committed to safety, transparency, and the well-being of our employees and the community.”

Conclusion

Fireworks DFRAC’s fact-check clearly shows that the claim shared with the video of the incident is manipulated or misleading since information asserting that two sikh employees remained missing after the incident, has not been found in the latest reports. Moreover, the incident occurred at Asian Fireworks, not at SBL Energy, a defense company as stated in the above-shared claim.

Analysis: Misleading