Banswara, Rajasthan: A major explosion rocked The India Cements Limited plant in Banswara on Saturday morning, injuring two workers who were caught in the blast. The incident occurred around 10:30 AM at the plant’s coal depot, located in Bajwana village, about 30 kilometers from Banswara city. The explosion is believed to have been triggered by a leakage of carbon dioxide gas from one of the coal storage tanks.

The blast sent a shockwave across the region, with the sound of the explosion echoing as far as 2 kilometers away. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the site, visible from nearly 5 kilometers. Local residents reported hearing a loud bang, followed by a large plume of smoke.

The injured workers, identified as Ishwarlal, a resident of Kutumbi village, and Dilip, from Nokhla village, suffered serious burns and were immediately rushed to a private hospital in Banswara for medical treatment. Their condition is being monitored closely.

Police and emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. Over 70 personnel from three local police stations were deployed to secure the area and assist in the rescue efforts. Circle Inspector Rohit Kumar Singh confirmed that the authorities were in contact with the plant management to understand the situation and determine the cause of the explosion.

Eyewitnesses and workers at the site have claimed that there had been a growing concern about high carbon dioxide levels in the coal depot, raising fears of a potential blast. The explosion occurred while coal was being loaded into one of the tanks. Workers allege that the rising carbon dioxide concentration may have contributed to the accident.

The India Cements Limited management has yet to comment on the incident, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion. The local police are working closely with industrial safety experts to assess whether safety protocols were followed at the plant.

The incident has raised concerns about safety standards at the plant, with local residents and workers calling for increased scrutiny of industrial operations in the region to prevent such accidents in the future.