Gelatin Sticks and Detonator Wires Found in Tingre Nagar, Pune; Contractor Arrested, Police Launch Probe
138 gelatin sticks and 135 detonator wires discovered abandoned in Tingre Nagar, Vishrantwadi; police detain contractor and investigate negligent explosive handling.
Pune, 26 November 2025: A major security scare unfolded in Tingre Nagar, Vishrantwadi, after a sack containing 138 gelatin sticks and 135 detonator wires was discovered abandoned near Saikrupa Lodge on Vidyanagar Lane No. 8. The explosives were found by a woman waste-picker, who immediately alerted nearby residents. Police teams rushed to the location around 9:30 a.m., cordoned off the area, and summoned the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, which safely seized the materials. The discovery caused panic in the neighbourhood, as the explosives were lying in an open public space used daily by pedestrians, schoolchildren, and shop-goers.
During the primary investigation, police identified the explosives as materials typically used for rock-breaking at construction sites. Officers traced the items to a nearby building project and arrested the contractor responsible for handling the materials. The site owner was also booked for negligence. Authorities confirmed that while the firm had a licence to procure explosive material, the act of abandoning such a large quantity on a public roadside was an extremely serious safety breach. Police stated that even small quantities of gelatin, when improperly stored, can lead to accidental ignition; therefore, the careless handling of over a hundred sticks posed a substantial risk to life and property.
Investigators are now examining whether the explosives were unintentionally left behind or whether a lapse in supervision led to the sack being dumped at the spot. CCTV footage from the surrounding lanes has been collected, and transport logs and procurement records from the contractor’s team are under scrutiny. Officers said they will look into every angle, including whether workers transporting explosives ignored safety guidelines or if there was any deliberate attempt to dispose of leftover material illegally.
Explosive gelatin sticks are commonly used across construction, road-cutting, and foundation-level excavation works, but strict guidelines govern their storage, handling, and disposal. Contractors are required to store the material in authorized magazines, maintain daily inventory logs, and transport it in secure, supervised vehicles. Residents of Vishrantwadi say repeated laxity in enforcing these protocols has created a pattern of negligence in the area. They expressed alarm that such a dangerous cache was lying in the open for anyone to access, calling the incident “a narrow escape for the entire neighbourhood.”
Local safety groups have demanded stringent inspections of construction sites using explosives, mandatory training for workers, and tighter surveillance on the movement of explosive consignments. They argue that every building project using gelatin sticks must be monitored regularly and that even minor lapses should lead to strict action. Many residents also demanded that authorities implement GPS-tracking systems for vehicles carrying explosive material to ensure accountability.
Police officials have assured the public that a detailed probe is underway and that all responsible individuals will face necessary legal action under the Explosives Act and other applicable laws. The seized gelatin sticks and detonators have been sent for technical evaluation. Authorities are confident that the investigation will reveal how the explosives ended up in a public area and whether systemic failures contributed to the incident.
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