At least 18 Indians killed, 16 missing in Sudan blast

At least 18 Indians were killed, and over 130 people were injured, in a gas tanker explosion at a ceramics factory in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday. It is being reported that victims are from the Indian states of Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

Sixteen Indians were missing after the incident, which claimed at least 23 lives, in the Bahri area of the capital Khartoum in Sudan, according to Indian Embassy, Khartoum, Sudan. The embassy yesterday issued a detailed list of Indians who were hospitalised, went missing or survived the tragedy. As per its data, seven people have been hospitalised with four in critical condition. Thirty-four Indians who survived have been accommodated at the Saloomi Ceramics Factory residence.

According to Sudan news agency SUNA, the incident happened while a tanker truck was offloading gas at the ceramics manufacturing company in an industrial area of the city. Sudan’s Council of Ministers said it had set up a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the fire and how such accidents could be prevented, the agency said.

The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD) in a post in Arabic on Facebook said many of the wounded in the fire had been taken to several hospitals in the capital for treatment, a CNN report said. Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed his grief at the incident. “Have just received the tragic news of a major blast in a ceramic factory ‘Saloomi’ in the Bahri area of the capital Khartoum in Sudan.

Deeply grieved to learn that some Indian workers have lost their lives while some others have been seriously injured. “The Embassy representative has rushed to the site. A 24- hour emergency hotline +249- 921917471 has been set up by @ EoI_Khartoum [India in Sudan]. The embassy is also putting out updates on social media. Our prayers are with the workers and their families,” S Jaishankar tweeted.

“At least 18 Indians were among the 23 people killed and over 130 injured in a horrific tanker blast at a ceramic factory in Sudan,” the Indian mission said yesterday. “As per the latest reports, but so far not confirmed officially, 18 are dead. Some of the missing may be in the list of the dead which we are still to receive as identification is not possible because of the bodies being burnt,” Embassy of India, Khartoum, Sudan said.

“There were inflammable materials improperly stored which led to the spread of the fire,” the Sudanese government said, adding that an investigation has been launched. The fire came after a gas tanker exploded while unloading its shipment at the factory, witnesses said, adding that the blast was so powerful it blew the tanker into a nearby lot. State TV said the blast had led to major loss of life and property.