Dhar, April 14 (IANS) Panic gripped the Pithampur industrial area in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Tuesday after three powerful explosions occurred at a waste management plant, sending shockwaves through nearby villages and triggering concern among residents, officials said.

The blasts occurred at the facility of Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, a plant that had earlier drawn national attention for incinerating toxic waste from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

The sound of the explosions was heard up to a distance of nearly one kilometre, while residents in surrounding villages reported tremors.

Many locals said the intensity of the blasts caused household items such as utensils and televisions to fall, creating fear and confusion.

However, so far, there has been no official confirmation about any casualties and the exact reason for the explosion at the plant.

Police teams and district administration officials rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident.

Authorities cordoned off the area and began assessing the situation.

Meanwhile, a team of police personnel and technical experts continues to investigate the incident inside the premises.

Pithampur City Superintendent of Police, Ravi Soner, told media persons that the situation is under control and that a detailed investigation is underway.

“We are examining the site with the help of technical experts. The exact cause of the explosions will be ascertained after a thorough inspection,” he said.

Notably, in 2025, the plant incinerated more than 337 tonnes of toxic material, including waste transported from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.

While the incineration completed between May and July 2025, the disposal has left behind 800 to 900 tons of hazardous residual ash, which remains a subject of ongoing legal disputes and environmental concerns regarding potential groundwater contamination in the surrounding Dhar district.

As of the time of writing, a team comprising police personnel and technical experts is engaged in investigating the actual causes of the explosion within the company premises.

Meanwhile, the company has not yet issued any statement regarding this incident.

–IANS

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