Seven killed in blast at illegal fire cracker factory in Bengal; BJP demands NIA probe

At least seven people were killed and six others injured after a massive blast at an “illegal firecracker factory” in North 24 Paraganas's Duttapukur on Sunday, about 40 km away from state capital Kolkata. The explosion happened around 10 a.m. The explosion's impact was so powerful that the roof of the building had blown off.

"Eight patients are currently admitted to the hospital. One person died here, and the six were brought dead by the police. So a total of seven have died” said Subrata Mondal, Superintendent of Police, Barasat. All the injured are admitted to Barasat Hospital

Meanwhile, politics erupted over the blast as BJP, the opposition blamed Mamata Banerjee for “detonating law and order” in the state. West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Kumar Majumdar on Sunday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an NIA investigation probe into the blast.

"This is not an isolated incident. The entire state is sitting on a powder keg. The chief minister had promised to close these illegal cracker-manufacturing factories but she is busy protecting the thieves in her government”, said BJP lop Suvendu Adhikari.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pulled up senior police officers and asked for action taken report from police over a crackdown on illegal firecracker factories in the state. The state government had commissioned a massive crackdown against such illegal firecracker factories after a similar blast in Egra, East Midnapur in May this year that had claimed at least 9 lives.

Bengal governor visited the site later on Sunday evening. "Several lives are lost. It is very unfortunate. Police are investigating. The locals are scared. Necessary steps will be taken", said Bengal Governor.​