Those killed in the accident have been identified as the Ramnik Lal Jhala (45), the owner of the bottling unit, Krishnaben, Manglaben (60) and Pragnesh Lalji (33). While Ramnik and Krishnaben died on their way to hospital, the others succumbed to their injuries at the local Civil Hospital.

Those injured in the accident include Sonalben, Kripalsinh Jhala, Narendrasinh Gohil, Shivrajsinh Gohil and Lalji Bhatt. Manglaben and Pragnesh were Lalji's wife and son.

The accident was initially believed to have been caused by a LPG cylinder blast, but fire brigade and municipal officers who visited the site later said, pointing to the extensive damage, that it could also have been a CO2 explosion. Top sources also said that Municipal Commissioner Raj Gopal has sought the help of forensic experts from Vadodara to ascertain whether any other explosive was involved.

(Late at night, experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory collected samples from the spot, a theory was gaining favour that the actual blast could have taken place near the kitchen of the two-storey building and not the soda bottling unit).

Fire Brigade and police personnel, along with members of social service organisations and local residents, rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations. Though equipped with bulldozers to remove the rubble and rescue the people trapped inside, the workers had to resort to manual efforts as as there was no approach way that led to the accident site. In the end, all the people were brought out safely.

Senior officials of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation and Rajkot Urban Development Authority also went to the spot to supervise rescue operations.

Police investigations of the accident have begun. Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun Sharma said the police were looking into whether Ramniklal had obtained permission of the relevant civic authorities to carry out his business at his premises. The police are also looking into whether he had taken proper safety precautions. Sharma said the police would also investigate whether the cylinders supplied to the unit were as per the required specifications or were faulty. The police carried out the inquest proceedings immediately after the accident and collected samples from the spot.

Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel announced relief of Rs 50,000 to the family of each victim of the blast from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The RMC also announced immediate relief of Rs 50,000 each to the next of the kin of the deceased and a relief of Rs 20,000 to those injured in the accident.