Explosion in firecracker factory; Seven killed, many injured

Kolkata (IANS). At least seven people were killed and several others injured in a massive explosion at an illegal firecracker factory at Duttpukur in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

Local police sources said the death toll was likely to rise as the condition of some of those injured in the blast was critical.

Police are claiming that the death toll at the time of filing the report was seven, but local eyewitnesses said they saw at least 12 bodies being carried into ambulances and taken away from the crash site.

According to the locals, the blast took place around 9.30 am on Sunday. The explosion was so strong that the roof of the godown where illegal firecracker raw material was kept was completely blown off. Some women are also among those who died.

After the blasts, the local people started protesting and they alleged that the firecracker warehouse was running illegally for a long time with the active support of the local police. Locals complained that no heed was paid to repeated complaints for police action against the godown.

Some locals also tried to attack the warehouse owner’s house. After a large contingent of police reached there, the local people started protesting demanding an explanation as to why the police were silent for so long. On this there was a heated argument between the police and the protesting public.

This development is a clear proof that the two consecutive blasts in illegal firecracker factories, first in East Midnapore and then in South 24 Parganas district, did not deter the police.

On May 16 this year, nine people were killed in a similar blast at an illegal firecracker factory at Egra in East Midnapore district. Factory owner Bhanu Bagh was also among those killed in the blast.

Then on May 21, a similar blast took place at Baj Baj in South 24 Parganas district. Although no one was killed in the blast, some people were injured. The incident revealed how the entire Budge Budge area had become a hub of illegal firecracker factories and godowns.