Nine people were killed and six others injured on Saturday when an explosion tore through an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit on Ramol-Gatrad Road in Ahmedabad's Mehmudpura area — and relatives of a victim now allege the same premises witnessed a fatal blast 14 years ago, that workers were trapped through debt bondage, and that earlier complaints went unheeded.

A Factory With a Deadly History

Narendra Chunara, a resident of Rajiv Nagar Tekra in Ramol, alleged that the unit had been operating for roughly 25 years and was run by Mehul Dodiya and Ramila Dodiya. He told reporters at the blast site that his younger brother, Vijay Chunara, died in a similar explosion at the same factory in 2014. 'They were running an illegal factory. About 80 to 85 per cent of my brother's body was burnt,' he alleged. Vijay, then a Class 8 student, succumbed to his injuries a day later at Civil Hospital.

Allegations of Debt-Based Labour Recruitment

Narendra Chunara claimed his family had borrowed ₹20,000–25,000 from the factory operators under financial duress, and that when he stopped working there, his younger brother was taken to the unit in his place to work off the debt. His wife Varsha Chunara corroborated the account, alleging that workers were routinely recruited in this manner — compelled to continue working until loans of ₹25,000–30,000 were cleared. She further alleged that Mehul Dodiya was present at the factory shortly before Saturday's blast and departed before the explosion.

Complaints After 2014 Blast 'Went Nowhere'

The couple alleged that the 2014 explosion produced no meaningful accountability. Narendra Chunara said a police complaint was filed at the time, but his family received neither justice nor compensation, and claimed they were threatened at the police station. Varsha added that family members had signed documents without fully understanding the legal implications, saying matters were 'settled by giving money.' This pattern, if borne out, points to a systemic failure of enforcement over more than a decade.

What Investigators Have Found So Far

Police confirmed that preliminary findings indicate the blast occurred while firecrackers were being manufactured and that the unit was operating illegally. A Forensic Science Laboratory team has examined the site, and the investigation into the cause of the explosion and the factory's operations is ongoing. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and completed rescue operations. The six injured are receiving treatment at L.G. Hospital and Asarwa Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.

What Comes Next

Authorities have yet to announce arrests or name formal accused in the current case. With allegations of a prior fatal blast, debt-based recruitment, and suppressed complaints now on record, pressure is mounting on both the police and the state administration to explain why the unit was allowed to continue operating. The investigation's findings — and whether the Dodiyas face charges — will be closely watched.