Harda Factory Blast: Two Years On, Family Awaits “14th Victim” Amid Legal Limbo

HARDA: Two years after a catastrophic firecracker factory explosion in Harda, the family of 30-year-old Kailash Khapre continues to live in uncertainty, caught between hope and despair. Kailash vanished in the debris during the blast and has neither been declared dead nor found alive. Legal complications have left his three young children and elderly parents without compensation or government assistance.

Uncertainty Lingers for Missing Worker
The deadly explosion at an illegal firecracker factory on 6 February 2024 claimed 13 lives and injured over 200 people. However, Kailash’s family remains in limbo, awaiting answers about his fate. “Sometimes we feel he will return, other times we fear he never will,” said his father, Raju Khapre. Kailash had gone to Harda for work just three months before the accident, and no trace of him has been found since.

Family Struggles Without Support
Kailash’s parents, Jamuna and Raju Khapre, are raising his three children, aged three, four, and five, while clinging to the hope of his return. The family has yet to receive any financial assistance, unlike the families of the 13 confirmed deceased workers who received ₹21.5 lakh in compensation each. According to the law, a missing person can only be declared dead if the body is recovered or if the person remains missing for seven years. Raju Khapre highlighted the challenge of providing for his young children on limited means, emphasizing the urgent need for government support.

Collector Promises Review of Rules
Harda Collector Siddharth Jain acknowledged the family’s difficulties. “We will review the rules and try to provide some financial assistance through the Red Cross. Further decisions will be taken in line with the National Green Tribunal’s final orders,” he said. The case is currently pending before the NGT.

Two years after the tragic blast, the fate of Kailash Khapre—the so-called “14th victim”—remains unresolved, leaving his family and the community waiting for closure.