At least six people, including three children, have been killed in a devastating explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday night around 10 PM when a massive blast tore through the factory located at the residence of local resident Chandranath Banik.
The explosion shook the local community and sent residents rushing to the scene, where they confronted the sight of Banik’s house completely engulfed in flames.
Alarmed by the sound of the blast, local residents immediately attempted to douse the flames.
However, it wasn’t until a significant team of police officers from the nearby Dholahat police station, along with personnel from the state fire services department, arrived that organized firefighting efforts began.
As of the latest updates, the fire remains uncontained, and rescue operations are still ongoing. Six charred bodies, including three children, have been recovered from the site.
Locals fear the casualty count will rise as rescuers have yet to complete full-scale operations.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that more victims remain trapped inside the remains of the destroyed house.
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Samir Jana, the local Trinamool Congress legislator for the Patharpratima Assembly constituency, quickly arrived at the scene and oversaw both the firefighting and rescue efforts.
He confirmed the recovery of the six bodies and assured that further operations would continue as long as necessary.
Jana also expressed his concerns about the increasing number of such illegal firecracker factory accidents in the region.
This latest tragedy is not an isolated incident. Over the past few years, West Bengal has become a focal point for similar fatal explosions linked to illegal firecracker manufacturing.
Just this February, four people lost their lives in a blast at a firecracker factory in Kalyani, Nadia district.
In 2023, a similar explosion in East Midnapore district claimed nine lives, and other blasts in South and North 24 Parganas districts have killed several individuals.
Despite frequent warnings and police raids, illegal firecracker factories continue to operate across the state.
After each tragedy, authorities promise stronger actions and more rigorous enforcement of laws against such hazardous operations.
However, these promises often lose momentum, with raids tapering off after initial efforts, allowing these illegal factories to persist.
As the community reels from yet another deadly explosion, the urgency for long-term solutions to combat illegal firecracker manufacturing in West Bengal has never been clearer.
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