Harda blast survivors still suffering after 20 months:Victim’s hand amputated but listed as ‘minor injury’ in records; ₹50,000 aid falls short of over ₹5 lakh treatment

I ran from the factory when it caught fire. I had only gone a short distance when another explosion occurred. A piece of tin struck my shoulder, and I fell unconscious. These are the words of 45-year-old Sumantra Bai, who recalls the Harda firecracker factory blast showing her left arm, amputated below the elbow. Sumantra is among the victims of the incident which occurred on February 6, 2024. Her husband, Asaram, explains that her hand was not lost immediately during the explosion but during subsequent medical treatment. At the time, Sumantra was classified as a minor injury case and received only ₹50,000 in government compensation, despite her treatment costs exceeding ₹5 lakh. Like Sumantra, several other victims, initially categorised as minor injuries, have suffered permanent disabilities, losing hands or becoming unable to use their legs. Read the full report.. Wife’s kidney damage, husband’s leg injured The blast also severely impacted those not directly connected to the factory. Dinesh Soni, 52, runs a nursery near the site and was standing at his home’s doorway when a flying iron angle struck his leg. Dinesh recalls, It pierced my leg like a rocket. I fell immediately and was admitted to the hospital. Three operations were performed, but there was no improvement. Doctors said amputation might be necessary. He opted for an External Fixator, a frame inserted to stabilize the leg, but the treatment is ongoing 20 months later. ₹5 lakh spent on treatment Dinesh says, ‘We have spent ₹4.5–5 lakh on treatment. The frame alone costs ₹2 lakh. Initially, we received ₹50,000 from the government, and another ₹23,000 later. We are still suffering and do not know how much more it will take to heal.’ Dinesh’s hardships extend further: his wife, Sunita, has damaged kidneys and undergoes dialysis three times a week. She explains, I need a kidney transplant. My mother is ready to donate, but the procedure will cost ₹10 lakh. The blast has made my husband helpless, and we struggle to arrange the funds. Severed hand left on road Among the most severely injured is 48-year-old Amina. During the explosion, a tin sheet struck her shoulder, causing her arm to detach completely and fall on the road. A policeman rushed her into a jeep and took her to the hospital, where she received a month of treatment. Despite this, Amina continues to struggle. She says, I am still in pain and undergoing treatment. I received ₹4 lakh in government assistance, but it has all been spent on medical expenses. I cannot work or manage household chores. Life has become even more difficult than before. ‘Government’s double standards left victims in limbo’, says Lawyer Supreme Court Advocate Avani Bansal, representing the victims, has criticized the government for its inadequate response. She explains, Victims have received only interim compensation. We are fighting for final compensation. We filed a petition with the National Green Tribunal highlighting groundwater contamination at the explosion site. The Public Works Department (PWD) initially confirmed groundwater contamination, but later submitted a new report attributing it to rainfall, not the explosion. Advocate Bansal adds, The government has shifted all responsibility onto the accused, Rajesh Agarwal, promising to sell his property for compensation. That, too, has not happened. The victims are forced to fight the accused in court, whereas the government should provide legal compensation first and then recover costs from the perpetrator. Twenty months after the tragedy, victims like Sumantra, Dinesh, and Amina continue to bear the physical, emotional, and financial scars of the explosion. Permanent disabilities, expensive medical treatments, and ongoing legal battles have made daily life challenging. The gap between the interim compensation provided and the actual costs of treatment underscores the systemic neglect faced by the survivors. Advocate Bansal stresses, The government’s inaction and shifting of responsibilities to the accused leave victims in a precarious situation. These citizens, already traumatized and injured, continue to fight for their basic rights and compensation while coping with the long-term effects of the blast. The Harda firecracker factory explosion serves as a grim reminder of industrial negligence and the slow mechanisms of accountability. Twenty months on, while the accused remain under legal scrutiny, the victims’ struggle for full compensation, medical care, and justice continues.