Kolkata, 1 April (H.S.) – A massive explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district killed at least six people, including three children, on Monday night. The incident took place around 10 PM at the residence of a local resident, Chandranath Banik, in Patharpratima, where firecrackers were being manufactured illegally.

Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion was so powerful that it engulfed the entire house in flames. Locals rushed to the scene upon hearing the loud blast and tried to douse the fire, but their efforts were in vain. Soon, a team from Dholahat Police Station and personnel from the state fire department arrived to control the situation. By Tuesday morning, the fire was completely extinguished.

Rescue teams have recovered six charred bodies so far, three of whom are children. Locals fear that the death toll may rise as the search operation continues. TMC MLA Sameer Jana, who represents the Patharpratima assembly constituency, also reached the spot to oversee the rescue efforts and confirmed the casualty count.

Illegal firecracker manufacturing has been a recurring issue in West Bengal, with multiple deadly explosions reported over the years.

In February 2024, an explosion at a firecracker factory in Kalyani, Nadia district, killed four people and injured several others.

In 2023, a similar blast at an illegal firecracker unit in Egra, Purba Medinipur, claimed nine lives.

Other fatal incidents have occurred in Budge Budge (South 24 Parganas) and Dattapukur (North 24 Parganas).

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh