Hyderabad: Officials are probing a suspected pyrolant explosion that turned deadly at Premier Explosives, an explosives manufacturer based in Yadadri Bhongir district, claiming one life and leaving several injured. The incident took place on Saturday at a manufacturing unit where fighter jet countermeasure flares for the Indian Air Force are made.
“The initial investigation suggests the explosion occurred during a critical manufacturing process involving magnesium-based flare pellets,” said Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district fire officer K Madhusudhana Rao. “Due to the highly sensitive nature of the chemicals involved, our team had to exercise extreme caution in approaching the site, and we specifically avoided using water to prevent any secondary reactions.”
According to officials, the unit was engaged in the production of specialised flares composed of Magnesium, Teflon, and Viton (MTV). Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion might have occurred during the magnesium filling process, known to be highly exothermic in nature.
The blast was instantaneous, causing the manufacturing unit’s roof to blow apart. While the facility normally permits 11 personnel in the restricted area, only four workers were present at the time of the incident, as others were on break. The fire, which was brief and self-extinguished, caused significant damage to the facility.
Premier Explosives, established in 1980, has been a pioneer in India’s commercial explosives sector, being the first company to develop indigenous technology in this field. The company has a strong track record in the defence sector, having expanded its operations significantly over the decades.
Starting with a detonator fuse plant in 1984 and a detonator plant in 1990, the company has grown to become a significant player in India’s defence industry.
The company expanded its capabilities with a solid propellant plant in 2006 and achieved significant quality certifications in 2017. Given the sensitive nature of the chemicals involved, which are known to react to friction and electrostatic charges, no photographs were permitted at the explosion site.
