Contract worker killed in unexploded ordnance blast at Ammunition Factory Khadki in Pune

Pune: A contractual worker from West Bengal died after an unexploded explosive detonated in his hands while he was working at a toilet construction site inside the Ammunition Factory Khadki (AFK) on Monday afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as Kartik Barman.

Police said the worker was excavating a pit using a hard-rock cutting machine when he found a suspected unexploded explosive buried underground. The device exploded when he attempted to lift it, causing severe injuries. He was rushed to Sassoon General Hospital, where he died on Tuesday morning.

Senior inspector Vikramsinh Kadam of Khadki police said, “It was the first day of the deceased at the workplace. He had lost his right palm and suffered severe injuries below the waist. As a result, he succumbed to his multiple injuries at the hospital on Tuesday morning. The deceased and his father had come to Pune in search of work a few years ago. His father is a daily-wage worker.”

Ravindra Reddy, president of the Ammunition Factory Workers’ Union, said, “The factory officials should investigate this incident thoroughly to find out the exact reasons behind it. They should also provide compensation to the family and enhance the safety of such workers on the campus.”

The incident took place in the sensitive artillery section, which produces high-calibre ammunition for the Indian armed forces. “This kind of incident may pose a danger to other sensitive branches of the factory. Also, the authorities should determine what kind of ammunition the deceased found underground. This incident also underlines the importance of creating awareness among contractual workers about such unexploded ammunition so that they do not handle it directly,” a senior factory official said on condition of anonymity.

AFK is one of the oldest and most prominent ordnance factories in the country. It currently functions under the management of Munitions India Limited, a newly formed defence public sector unit under the Department of Defence Production.

Another factory official said enhancing security measures was essential. “Had there been a widespread CCTV network, this incident could have been averted. The factory should have multiple CCTV cameras, or section-wise surveillance, to keep watch on activities across the campus,” the official added.

AFK’s public relations officer BN Dubey did not respond to TOI’s phone calls and messages on Tuesday.