An explosion tore through a metal container packed with gelatin sticks, strapped to a tractor parked on Dhanaki Road in Umarkhed, Yavatmal district, on Saturday, sending flames lashing across the site. The blast ripped the container's lid and ruptured an air cylinder near the rear tyre, igniting a fire that left four men dead and five others badly burned. Locals heard the roar and rushed to the scene, dragging the wounded to the sub‑district hospital before they were transferred to larger facilities.
The tractor had been brought to the welding workshop for repairs after a previous blasting job, the police said. The gelatin sticks, a high‑explosive propellant used in mining and demolition, were being stored in a container that had not been secured according to safety guidelines, the authorities added.
A Umarkhed police station officer confirmed that four firefighters and a paramedic team attended the blaze, while a local farmer offered water and first aid to the injured before the ambulance arrived. The victims, all male, were taken to the Sub‑District Hospital, where they received emergency treatment; two were later shifted to a tertiary care center for critical care.
Investigators are examining whether the welding sparks or a faulty air cylinder triggered the explosion, and whether the container met regulatory standards for hazardous material transport. The Maharashtra State Fire Service has called for a review of the protocols used by contractors who move explosive materials in rural areas.
Police will hold a hearing on the incident next week to determine liability, while the state government plans to issue new guidelines for handling and transporting gelatin sticks. The families of the deceased have requested their names be kept confidential until the investigation is complete.