Tragedy Strikes as Explosion Engulfs Illegal Firecracker Factory in West Bengal, Claiming Seven Lives.
Source: India Today
In a horrifying incident that sent shockwaves through the region, an explosion ripped through an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Duttapukur, North 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal, leaving at least seven people dead and numerous others injured. The explosion, which occurred on a fateful Sunday morning, highlighted the grave dangers posed by unregulated and illicit firecracker factories.
The devastating explosion occurred around 10 am at a factory situated in Nilgunj’s Moshpole within the jurisdiction of Duttapukur police station, approximately 30 km north of Kolkata. At the time of the explosion, several workers were inside the factory premises, tragically losing their lives in the blast. Local authorities swiftly responded to the emergency, with firefighters and rescue teams arriving at the scene to initiate a search and evacuation operation. Fire tenders were deployed to battle the ensuing blaze, their sirens piercing through the otherwise calm morning.
Rescue personnel managed to recover five bodies from the rubble, a stark reminder of the grim consequences of the explosion. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Barasat for urgent medical attention. The incident prompted an immediate crackdown on illegal firecracker manufacturing units in the area, as authorities vowed to ensure the safety of the populace.
Alarmingly, this occurrence wasn’t the initial occurrence of its kind in West Bengal. Just a few months earlier, a similar blast in Egra, East Midnapore, led to the unfortunate demise of nine individuals and inflicted severe injuries upon seven others. Another incident transpired in May, involving an explosion in an illicit firecracker production unit situated within a residential vicinity in the South 24 Parganas district, resulting in the loss of a minimum of three lives. In the previous December, a mishap at a fireworks manufacturing facility in Mohanpur village, positioned within the Nodakhali area of South 24 Parganas district, brought about three fatalities and two injuries.
The recurrence of these explosive events prompted the state authorities to introduce a fresh policy stipulating that the manufacturing of fireworks is exclusively permissible within designated industrial zones. The process of establishing these assigned hubs is already in progress. On May 22, the West Bengal government took the initiative to form a committee, led by the state’s chief secretary, aimed at tackling the predicament of such unsanctioned establishments.
This incident has spotlighted the widespread operation of unlawful firecracker factories, frequently concealed within residential edifices, and the perilous consequences they present for both the workforce and the local community.
Krishnapada Bag, the proprietor of the firecracker factory in the Egra incident, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Odisha, underscoring the lethal consequences of such incidents. The proximity of these events raised alarming questions about the government’s efficacy in curbing the illicit production of firecrackers, prompting concerns over the safety of citizens.
Political backlash and counteraction:
Political leaders seized upon the tragedy to voice their opinions. Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of prioritizing political agendas over the safety of citizens. Adhikari claimed that the rampant existence of illegal firecracker factories pointed to a larger issue of governance.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed these concerns, suggesting that the state government’s lax attitude towards regulating the use of explosives had contributed to the string of tragic incidents. The explosions had now become a grim trade, taking lives and leaving communities in mourning.
The series of explosions within illegal firecracker factories within a short span of time has left the public deeply unsettled. Calls for stricter enforcement of regulations and crackdowns on illegal manufacturing units have gained momentum, urging the government to take immediate action. The incidents have sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of both the government and society in preventing such disasters.
As the investigations continue and the affected families mourn their losses, the tragic explosion serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need to address the illicit firecracker manufacturing trade. It underscores the importance of robust regulatory mechanisms, thorough enforcement, and community awareness to prevent such calamities from recurring. The state government now faces mounting pressure to translate words into actions and prevent further loss of life due to preventable accidents.
