One man succumbs to burn injuries in South 24 Pgs' firework explosion, 3 others critical

A powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in the Harale area of Champahati, South 24 Parganas, has claimed its first victim. Gaurahari Ganguly, a 60-year-old worker who was rushed to Kolkata’s MR Bangur Hospital with 100% burn injuries, passed away around 12:30 AM on Sunday.

The blast, which occurred on Saturday morning, was so intense that it blew off the asbestos roof of the factory and caused the brick structure to collapse entirely, damaging nearby houses and trees in the vicinity. The medical condition of the other three victims remains a major concern for authorities. While Kishan Adhikari is currently stable at MR Bangur Hospital with 30% burns, two others, Biswajit Mandal and Rahul Pui, are undergoing intensive treatment at a private hospital near Panchasayar. Doctors have stated that Rahul Pui’s condition is extremely critical as his body is 95% burnt, leaving him in a life-and-death struggle.

Local residents reported hearing a deafening noise followed by a massive fire that gutted the factory premises within seconds. Preliminary investigations suggest that the unit might have been operating without valid safety clearances, storing high-intensity explosive materials for wedding season orders. Following the blast, the owner of the facility has reportedly gone into hiding.