Kolkata: One person was killed and at least thirteen injured, two of them critically, when a blast took place in a cracker factory at Sonarpur in South 24-Parganas on Sunday.
Local residents heard a loud sound on Sunday afternoon and rushed to the factory located at the Gobindapur area of Sonarpur. They rescued all the injured persons and took them to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, where they have currently been undergoing treatment. The health condition of three victims is serious, hospital sources said. The blast had shaken the entire area and also triggered tension among the local people who staged a protest demonstration, alleging that the factory had been operating without a fire clearance. An irate mob staged a demonstration in front of police officers who reached the spot for investigation. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob. The local people alleged that the factory had been operating there illegally for a long time but the police administration did not take any steps in this regard. The owner of the factory has been at large after the incident.
According to local sources, the injured persons sustained burn injuries in the incident. A blaze soon engulfed the entire factory and damaged it completely. After being informed, around 5 fire tenders were swung into action to douse the flames. The fire personnel ensured that no one was trapped inside the factory.
Police said that the injured persons were working at the factory when the explosion took place. The district police cordoned off the entire area and traffic movement was restricted to check any untoward incident.
Some of the windowpanes in the nearby houses collapsed due to the intensity of the blast.
The fire fighters brought the fire under control within four hours. However, they are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and the extent of damage. A probe has been initiated in this connection.