Massive explosion at firecracker factory in Nadia's Kalyani; 4 charred bodies found

At least four people, including two women, were killed in a devastating explosion at a firecracker factory in the Rathtala area of Kalyani, Nadia district, West Bengal, on Friday afternoon. The blast occurred around 1 PM, and emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered the charred remains of four individuals, and one more person was found critically injured. The injured individual was transported to JNM Hospital in Kalyani for treatment. Firefighters worked for about an hour and a half to control the flames, which had completely engulfed the factory. The explosion resulted in severe damage, leaving the entire factory destroyed.

The exact cause of the explosion is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest a short circuit could be responsible. Local police are looking into the factory’s operating conditions, as it is believed to have lacked the necessary permits to function legally. The factory was located in a densely populated residential area, which raises concerns about the safety of such operations in such environments. Authorities are examining how the factory managed to operate without the required permissions and are reviewing its legal status.

Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion occurred in a busy area, and it is believed that most of the victims were factory workers. As the investigation progresses, local authorities are focusing on understanding the exact circumstances surrounding the factory’s operations, including whether it was adhering to safety regulations. The local police and fire brigade have already begun their investigations, and a forensic team has been deployed to collect evidence from the site.

This explosion follows a troubling pattern of similar incidents at firecracker factories in West Bengal. In the past year, explosions have occurred in other parts of the state, including Champahati and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas. In May 2023, another explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in East Midnapore’s Egra killed 11 people. These incidents have drawn attention to the regulatory gaps in the firecracker industry and raised concerns about safety practices in unregulated manufacturing units.

West Bengal’s firecracker industry is a significant economic contributor, with more than 3.1 lakh people employed in the sector and an annual turnover of Rs 8,000 crore. However, only 232 firecracker manufacturing units have been officially approved by the state. Additionally, it has been reported that a limited number of workers in the industry have undergone safety training. The government has previously promised to strengthen regulations, particularly in ensuring that firecracker factories operate with necessary licenses, adhere to safety protocols, and avoid placing workers and the public at risk.