Explosion at illegal firecracker factory claims 8 lives from one family in South 24 Parganas

An explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in the Patharpratima area of South 24 Parganas district has claimed the lives of eight family members. The incident occurred on Monday night in the South Raipur region of the Dholahat police jurisdiction, where a powerful blast triggered a large fire in the house. Eight members of the Banik family, including four children, died on the spot. Among the victims were 65-year-old Arvind Banik, 80-year-old Prabhavati Banik, 28-year-old Santwana Banik, 9-year-old Arnab Banik, 8-month-old Asmita Banik, 6-year-old Anushka Banik, 6-month-old Ankit Banik, and Rupa Banik, the wife of Tushar Banik, who succumbed to burns sustained in the explosion.

The cause of the explosion is believed to be linked to the production of firecrackers at the house. Local residents reported that illegal firecracker manufacturing had been ongoing at the family home for some time. However, the administration has stated that the family held a valid license to produce eco-friendly green crackers. Despite this, concerns have been raised about the possibility that the license was being misused for manufacturing hazardous firecrackers. "The family had permission for green crackers, but we are investigating the full extent of the operations," said local officials.

The explosion occurred in a densely populated area, and the blast caused extensive damage to the house and nearby structures. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions, followed by a fierce fire that quickly engulfed the building. The fire was so intense that by the time emergency services arrived, the victims had already perished. The local police recovered six bodies immediately after the incident, and the remaining two bodies were found later as part of the ongoing recovery efforts.

After the explosion, forensic teams were dispatched to the site to gather samples and investigate the cause of the blast. A thorough inquiry into the incident has been launched, with officials stating that they would focus on determining whether the firecracker production at the house was in violation of safety regulations. "We will conduct a detailed investigation to understand the exact reasons behind this tragedy," said the district administration.

Local MLA Sameer Jana provided some context, stating that while the family had a valid license to make firecrackers, the products were supposed to be made at a different location. He mentioned that some firecrackers were stored at the house, which might have contributed to the magnitude of the blast. Authorities have assured that a full investigation will be carried out to prevent such incidents in the future and have urged the community to be vigilant about illegal firecracker manufacturing.