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At least 18 people lost their lives and several others were injured after a devastating fire erupted at a firecracker godown on Dhunva Road near Deesa town in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, according to a report by The Times of India. The structure collapsed following the blaze, further complicating rescue efforts.

The death toll is expected to rise as many of the injured have sustained severe burn injuries. Emergency rescue teams, including firefighters and the district administration, are on the scene retrieving bodies from the debris.

District Collector Confirms Casualties and Rescue Efforts

Earlier in the day, Banaskantha Collector Mihir Patel confirmed the recovery of 13 bodies and detailed the ongoing response. "We received information about an explosion at the godown around 9:45 AM. The blast caused the entire slab of the building to collapse," he said.

According to Patel, four individuals were injured, with two referred to Deesa Civil Hospital and two others to Palampur Civil Hospital for treatment.

Cause of Fire Under Investigation

The exact cause of the explosion and fire remains unknown. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine whether any safety violations contributed to the disaster.

Rescue operations continue at the site as officials clear debris and search for potential survivors.


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