20200103 West Bengal: 5 killed in Naihati illegal firecracker factory blast
India Jan 04 2020 “Building” “Factories”
Dead : dead 5 to 9 Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured more than 10
West Bengal: 5 killed in Naihati illegal firecracker factory blast
Updated: 2020–01–04
NAIHATI: Five persons were burned to death after three back-to-back explosions ignited a massive fire at an illegal firecracker</a> factory at Naihati, nearly 42km north of Kolkata, on Friday afternoon.
Three deafening blasts in quick succession sent bodies flying and shattered the windowpanes of several neighbouring houses and shops. At least a dozen people were seriously injured in the resultant fire, as the entire structure was blown to smithereens.
The first explosion occurred around 12.30pm when some labourers were working at the factory at Masjidpara. As villagers rushed towards the unit, two more blasts quickly followed, as firecrackers piled up inside caught fire. Within seconds, the building that housed the factory was in flames, thwarting desperate attempts by villagers to go in.
According to eyewitnesses, the factory was razed to the ground and the impact of the explosion sent bodies flying. “Two bodies and mangled body parts were lodged on trees near the factory. The walls and roof of the entire house were blown off on impact,” said Amit Nandi, a resident.
The blasts shook the windowpanes of several houses at Naihati’s Debak village. “At least three explosions, one after the other, in Masjidpara were heard from areas nearly 8km away under Mamudpur gram panchayat. Several houses and shops were affected within a 4-km radius of the explosion,” said Aamir Ali, a local trader.
Five fire engines were pressed into the service, but by the time the fire was put out, the five workers identified as Brinda Sanpui (40), a resident of Naihati’s Harishpur, Kalpana Halder (42) from Subhaspally, Ram Besra (45) from Majherpara, Mansur Piyada (17) from Mamudpur and Abhoy Mandi (42) from Debak had sustained severe burns and were charred to death. Several others who suffered serious burn injuries were admitted to Kalyani JNM Hospital, Barrackpore BN Bose Hospital and Barasat District Hospital.
Locals alleged that crude bombs were also being made at the firecracker unit, which was being run illegally in a crowded locality for over two decades. They have demanded a proper probe and immediate arrest of the factory owner.
State food minister and Trinamool Congress district president Jyotipriyo Mullick, who went to the spot, said: “The local panchayat had no information that such a big illegal unit was operating here. We always sensitise the local administration that such illegal units, which pose danger to human life, have to be closed down. The Barrackpore commissionerate is probing the case.”
Barrackpore BJP MP Arjun Singh rushed to the spot and drew parallels with the Khagragarh blast, demanding an NIA probe. “I suspect that huge amount of explosives were stockpiled inside the factory like Khagragarh that triggered such a major blast. Here, nearly 100 cracker units housed in an illegal firecracker hub, was being run under the influence of the local administration controlled by the ruling party. The blast should be investigated by NIA immediately,” Singh said.
Mullick dismissed the allegations as “political posturing”. “He sniffs politics in everything,” Mullick said.
Web Source: The times of India