Kolkata, Feb 7 (NationPress) A tragic explosion at a firecracker manufacturing facility in Kalyani, located in West Bengal's Nadia district, claimed the lives of at least four individuals on Friday afternoon, with numerous others sustaining injuries.

According to district police sources, four charred bodies have been recovered from the blast site, including two women.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed by the authorities. It is believed that these four individuals were employees at the factory.

Witnesses reported that the force of the explosion was so intense that it completely destroyed the factory structure.

Local residents express skepticism regarding the official death toll, suggesting that the actual number of casualties could be significantly higher. Some injured individuals are in critical condition, raising concerns about their survival.

A large contingent of police, along with personnel from the state fire services and disaster management teams, arrived promptly to initiate rescue efforts. They are currently searching for any additional victims trapped under the rubble.

There are growing concerns about how the local government permitted the operation of such a hazardous facility in a densely populated area. The police have also launched an inquiry to determine whether the firecracker factory held the necessary licenses.

In response to the incident, the West Bengal government has requested a comprehensive report.

The state secretariat, Nabanna, instructed the Nadia district police on Friday evening to deliver a detailed report as soon as possible, outlining the circumstances of the explosion, the precise count of casualties, and related details.

Reports indicate that the firecracker factory had been functioning for nearly a decade in a residence owned by Khokhon Biswas, who has since gone missing.

Local testimonies lead investigators to suspect that Biswas was operating the factory from his home.

Initially, Biswas was thought to be involved in sourcing firecrackers from wholesale markets for retail sales. However, he allegedly progressed to manufacturing firecrackers, with previous complaints lodged by locals regarding his production of banned sound-crackers.

The police have issued a notice to locate him, as his insights are critical in determining whether the factory operated with a valid license.

In 2023, a similar incident occurred at an illegal firecracker factory in Egra, East Midnapore district, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals. There have been previous explosions in Budge Budge, South 24 Parganas, and Duttapukur, North 24 Parganas, over the past few years, resulting in multiple fatalities.