Fire breaks out at Ordnance Factory in Bolangir, employee critically injured

A person sustained critical injuries as a fire broke out at an arms factory located at Saintala in Odisha’s Bolangir district on Wednesday.

As per reports, the blaze started in Unit 6 of the Ordnance Factory during the handling of explosive materials by an employee.

The employee, who sustained severe burn injuries, has been identified as Shivashankar Bhoi. He was initially treated at Badmal Medical facility but was later shifted to a hospital in Rourkela for advanced care.

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Concerns Raised Over Safety Measures at the Factory

Residents in the vicinity expressed concern over the safety measures at the factory, emphasising the need for stringent controls while handling explosive materials.

The incident highlights the importance of workplace safety standards and the need for continuous monitoring to protect workers in high-risk industries like armaments, said a local.

Ordnance Factory

Ordnance factories are government-owned industrial facilities that produce a wide range of defense hardware and equipment, playing a crucial role in India's self-reliance in defense production, and are managed by the Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services).