Gandhak Potash Blast: An Actual Sitting Over the Powder Keg—A Case Report

Introduction

An explosion is an attention-driving event that passed in a sphere and that could be either accidental or designedly performed mishap. Numerous materials can be used for explosion substantially as products of nitrates and such types of chemicals having explosive properties either alone or when mixed with other explosive substances (1). There are different types of explosives depending upon the purpose for which they are needed: explosives used for commercial blasting applications or manufacturing plants, intended for use in the oil and gas well industry, and high explosives. The manner of death due to explosive events can be classified into these categories: homicide, accident, and suicide. Deaths due to accidents normally take place at the workplace or when an untrained person handles them or in society due to intention of some mischief. Accidental explosions at the workplace typically involve mines, road construction, and demolition sites (2). Many metallic tools are being used indoors for different purposes like a homemade tool being used to scare the flocks of birds and cattle in the fields. It is a hollow metal rod with its distal end bent at the right angle. The chemical which is used as an explosive in the tool is potassium sulphate. The powdered chemical is poured into the bent end of the tool and a solid iron rod which acts as a piston was struck over the powdered explosive substance and it produces dark-colored fumes and sound. Such improvised firearm tools when operated can cause explosion accidentally.

Case Report

A 30-year-old male was at his home when some children came to him to make powder of the potassium sulphate which they bought from a local shopkeeper in the form of small rocks. The deceased took the rocks of approximately 1.5 to 2 kilograms in the iron-made mortar and pestle. When he struck the rocks of potassium sulphate, the pestle acted like a piston which triggered the blast. After the blast, he was admitted to a hospital from which he was transferred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, India. The patient was admitted under the surgery service, but died shortly after. An autopsy was arranged. At autopsy, body was of average built and its length was 163 cm as shown in Figure 1. Cadaveric rigidity was appreciable in developed phase. Bluish purple cadaveric lividity was present at the posterior aspect of the body. Multiple punctate abrasions resembling stippling effect were present over the face as shown in Figure 2, upper two-third of the anterior aspect of the chest involving the shoulder region as shown in Figure 3, anterior aspect of bilateral arms, medial aspect of bilateral legs, and dorsomedial aspect of bilateral feet. Multiple reddish abrasions of various sizes were present over the lower one-third of the anterior chest wall, upper one-third of anterior abdominal wall, and medial aspect of upper two-third of the right arm as shown in Figure 4. Multiple lacerations were present over the posterior aspect of the middle two-third of right arm as shown in Figure 5, left elbow joint, and anteromedial aspect of the distal one-third of the left thigh as shown in Figure 6. Both hands were amputated below the level at the wrist as shown in Figure 7 (Right hand) and Figure 8 (Left hand). The shaft of the underlying left femur bone was found fractured. The fractured ends of the bone showed infiltration of blood in its bony trabeculae. Injuries described and their complications were given as a cause of death.

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Figure 1:

Showing overall body.

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Figure 2:

Showing multiple stippling over the face.

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Figure 3:

Showing abraded contusions over the anterior abdominal wall and anterior chest region.

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Figure 4:

Showing superficial burns and abrasions over the right arm and adjoining shoulder joint.

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Figure 5:

Showing lacerated wounds.

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Figure 6:

Showing laceration over left thigh.

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Figure 7:

Showing traumatic amputation of right hand.

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Figure 8:

Showing traumatic amputation of left hand.

Discussion

Death due to explosion is a critical issue for autopsy surgeons due to the extensive damage to the person’s body that may lead to difficulty in establishing the identity of deceased. Difficulty in identification is a major problem when an explosion occurs in a crowded area. The severity and pattern of injuries following a blast depends on the direction of projectiles from the blast, the distance of affected people from the blast, type and amount of explosive substance used, and the clothing of the people around the blast. The explosive force is highly directional. The force of the bomb explosion is extremely directional and the pattern of injury might indicate that the person was carrying the bomb or bending over it or sitting to one side of it (3).

Blast injuries can be sustained from either a single high-intensity exposure or repeated exposure to less intensity. Injury is mainly to the tympanic membrane and the middle part of the ear, the lungs, and the abdominal organs. The lungs are hemorrhagic and edematous. Rupture of the pleura leading to the filling of air or blood may be found on postmortem examination (4). Usually, four types of blast injuries are recognized which discussed here:

Primary blast Injuries: Single high-intensity pressure wave leads to this type of injury. Hollow organs of the body are more commonly affected due to the continuation of an air column between the atmosphere and the organ.

Similar types and pattern of injuries, that is, superficial burns, abraded contusions, lacerations, and traumatic amputations were also found in a case reported by Mittal et al. (6).

The pattern of injuries sustained in a bomb explosion plays a significant role in determining and reconstruction of the scene of the crime. However, meticulous examination and the skeptical eye of an autopsy surgeon can solve most of the doubts of investigation agency. Laboratory testing of the unburnt powder presented as stippling effect over the body can be useful in the detection of explosive chemical. Distance from the epicenter of blast is inversely proportional to the severity of injuries sustained to any person(s) (7).

Conclusion

Multiple types of injuries can ensue after a blast as we saw in the present case. The effects of blast on an exposed person depends on the distance gradient between the epicenter of blast and the exposed person. Hollow cavity organs are more vulnerable to the wave of air that produces after blast but superficial burn injuries over the extensive body surface area and fracture of long bones can lead to immediate death of the person. It is suggested that government authorities should put a strict surveillance and limitations over depositaries, manufacturing plants, licensing authorities to distribute and circulate of such deadly explosive chemicals and weapons along with firm measures to reduce such cases and issues related to the effluence of explosive substances in the society.