Families Search For Loved Ones After Umred Factory Tragedy

Nagpur: Outside the Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) mortuary, time stood still. Nearly 20 hours after a devastating blast at an aluminium powder factory in Umred MIDC on Friday night, grief and silence hung heavy in the air. There were no loud cries, whispers and the shuffle of tired feet broke the eery silence occasionally. Families waited anxiously, many since the previous night, clinging to hope while fearing the worst.

Vasudeo Durge, 42, stood with arms folded tightly across his chest. His only son, Piyush, was among the five killed in the explosion that rocked the factory. "The moment we heard, we rushed to the factory," he said, eyes fixed on the hospital gate. "But there was no information, only chaos. It was past 6pm when we found out about the blast. I was shocked to my core. And now I don't know what to do," he said with a heavy voice, leaving the mortuary premises. Vasudeo and his wife, both work as farm labourers and live in a small hut in village Panjripar. Piyush, who used to earn around Rs15,000 per month was their major source of income.

Across from him, Shailesh Dhone recounted the long, harrowing night searching for his 23-year-old relative, Abhishek Javanjal, who was also among the five dead. "When we reached the site, all we saw was fire and thick black smoke. We were told the injured and deceased were taken to hospitals, so we began going from one to another — asking, hoping, but no one could tell us anything."

By morning, they learned that some bodies were shifted to GMCH in Nagpur. That led them to Nagpur, but the wait continued. Some of the victims were burned beyond recognition and could only be identified through DNA tests. "We've sent a vehicle to bring Abhishek's mother from the village for a DNA sample," Shailesh said, his voice choking.

Not far away stood Shashikant Meshram, a social worker who knew several of the workers. "There were nearly 100 people on shift when the blast happened. The flames could be seen from a distance. Only 20 to 25 people have been identified so far. The families of the rest are still waiting, not knowing where their loved ones are," he said.

At GMCH, there were no scenes of chaos. In the silence, families waited, each hoping they wouldn't hear their loved one's name being called among the deceased.