NEW DELHI: At least 11 people were killed and dozens wounded after a blast ripped through a firecracker factory in India’s Madhya Pradesh state on Tuesday.
Local media footage showed a blaze and smoke coming out of the factory in the Harda district after the explosion. The fire engines rushed to the site and rescue officials tried to evacuate the stranded people.
Divisional commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma has said that at least 174 people have been rescued and moved to the hospitals, confirming 11 deaths.
He said the authorities will check the debris to see if there are any bodies left adding that 40-50% of the debris has been removed.
Police and district officials said rescue efforts were ongoing in full swing.
The windows of nearby houses were shattered due to the impact of the explosion and residents termed the experience similar to an earthquake.
An explosion and fire ripped through a firecracker factory in Harda in India, where several people were reportedly killed and injured. pic.twitter.com/VqanQxf1GH
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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in a social media post said an inquiry has been launched into the blast.
Dr. Manish Sharma, a surgeon at the Harda district hospital, said the medical facility has been flooded with a stream of casualties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office announced compensation of $2,408 and the state government announced compensation of $4,817 each for the families of those killed.
Fireworks are very popular in India, especially during the Hindu festival of Diwali, as well as at wedding celebrations. However, many firework factories fail to implement basic safety requirements and operate without permits.
In 2019, at least 18 people were killed in a firework factory blast in Batala in Punjab state, while another 10 were killed i in Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh n the same year.
