A massive fire at a chemical factory in Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi claimed seven lives on February 16, 2026, with several workers injured and two still feared trapped. The blaze erupted around 9:30 AM in the Khushkhera industrial area of Khairthal-Tijara district, gutting the unit and sending shockwaves through the region. Rescue teams battled thick smoke and explosions for hours, highlighting glaring safety lapses in industrial hubs.
Blaze Erupts in Closed Unit
Around 20-25 workers toiled inside plot G-1/118 when flames shot up, likely from a short circuit or gas cylinder burst. Eyewitnesses heard three to four deafening explosions, with cardboard stockpiles fueling rapid spread. The factory, shuttered for months, stored flammables that turned it into an inferno, trapping nine initially.
Police on routine patrol spotted smoke at 10 AM, alerting fire brigades from Khushkhera and Bhiwadi RIICO. Six tenders doused the fire after 90 minutes, but cooling ops dragged on. Charred bodies emerged one by one; seven confirmed dead, injuries reported among escapees from burns and suffocation.
ADM Sumita Mishra oversaw ops: “Nine trapped; seven bodies recovered. Searches continue for two missing.” DSP Shivraj Singh cordoned the site, evacuating nearby factories and cutting power to avert chain reactions. Goods worth lakhs ashes, per early tallies.
Official Response and Probe
PM Narendra Modi condoled via X: “The Bhiwadi fire mishap tragic, deeply saddening. Prayers for injured.” CM Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered top medical aid and a magisterial inquiry into causes—short circuit suspected, but gas leaks probed too. SP and ADM rushed in for assessments.
Congress leader Govind Dotasara slammed negligence: “Chemical tanker blasts, ICU fires—government asleep.” Industrial units got directives for safety audits amid rising mishaps. Bhiwadi’s RIICO zone, packed with factories, faces renewed scrutiny post-tragedy.
Fire in-charge Raju Khan noted cardboard’s role in intensity. No word on owner yet; police filed case, vowing strict action. Families wail outside; bodies sent for post-mortem as DNA tests loom for IDs.
Safety Gaps Exposed
This marks Rajasthan’s string of industrial horrors—Ajmer tanker spill killed 16 last year. Bhiwadi’s chemical cluster booms sans checks; closed plants reused illegally raise red flags. Workers, mostly migrants, lack gear amid cost-cutting.
Experts urge sprinklers, exits, drills—ignored here. Federation demands compensation, jobs for kin. Nation mourns laborers’ sacrifice in hazardous toil, pushing factory reforms pre-monsoon peak.
Inquiry findings could jail errants, compensate victims. Till then, Bhiwadi grieves, vowing no repeats in profit’s shadow.
