48-hour wait before families can receive blast victims’ bodies, samples collected for DNA matching

Nagpur: Families of the workers killed in the blast at the explosives factory at Raulgaon in Katol taluka, nearly 30kms from Nagpur, on Sunday are likely receive the bodies only after DNA reports are received. The process is expected to take at least 48 hours, as identification became extremely difficult due to the severely-mutilated and charred condition of the remains. The forensic medicine department at the Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) carried out autopsy on the remains which were brought in 22 bags. Most examinations were completed late in the evening and the bodies preserved in cold storage. Officials said the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory collected samples from the relatives for DNA matching, and only after confirmation will the bodies be released. The exact death toll will be established after DNA verification and cross-checking with the company's employment records, though officials fear it could be around 20 or more. Outside GMCH, scenes of grief and anxiety played out through the day as the large number of relatives gathered, with many unwilling to leave without definitive identification. Some broke down in tears while others waited in stunned silence. Police maintained a strong presence to manage the crowd amid rising tension and uncertainty. Meanwhile, 18 injured workers, all women, are undergoing treatment at the Orange City Hospital and Research Institute. Out the 19 injured workers who were brought to the hospital, one was declared as ‘brought dead'. All the other 18 workers are reported to be in critical condition with burn injuries ranging from 30% to 80%, along with splinter wounds, fractures, and hearing damage. Several of the injured are on ventilators and intensive care support, and some are in specialised burn ICU isolation.Tempers flared briefly outside the hospital when relatives, initially barred from seeing the patients due to ICU and infection-control protocols, demanded updates. After intervention by doctors and police, authorities allowed one relative per patient a brief, distanced viewing. Among the injured is Sunita Uikey (45), who sustained severe burns. Her parents rushed from Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh, while her son Rupesh, who reported for the same morning shift at a nearby unit, narrowly escaped the blast. Her husband Krishna said the family could only see her from a distance because of ICU restrictions.Another worker, Seema Durve (26), suffered serious burns. Her husband Vijay Durve recounted seeing the tin shed explode and flames engulf the area. He alleged that there was no immediate emergency response. "I saw a woman worker flung up in the air," he said.Mayuri Durve, a young worker who completed Class 12, was also injured. Siblings Manoj Nihare and his sister Amrapali Kalsarpe were among those who reportedly sustained serious burn injuries.Among those confirmed dead are Savita Kalmegh (40), a mother of two, Prem Das Bagade, and Ganesh Namdeorao Tonge. Officials said the immediate priority remains the identification of the deceased, treatment of the injured, and securing the accident site, while a detailed probe into the cause of the explosion and safety compliance at the unit will follow. The tragedy left families across several villages shattered, with many still waiting outside hospitals and the mortuary, hoping for confirmation, closure, and answers. Deceased worker Rajendra Kulmethe's wife Mala said they worked together and came back home together since 2018. "What am I supposed to do now?" she asked.