AHMEDABAD, India: At least 18 people were killed and five others wounded in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in western India on Tuesday, officials said.
The explosive blast hurled chunks of rock and metal across the factory complex in the town of Deesa, Gujarat state.
“There was a huge blast in the factory causing the concrete roof to collapse, killing 18 people and injuring five others,” government spokesman Rishikesh Patel told reporters.
He added the factory was operating without a license. Authorities have started investigation into the incident.
According to District Collector Meher Patel, the explosion occurred at Deepak Traders, a fireworks facility. The blast was so intense that parts of the building collapsed, hindering rescue operations.
Local fire teams from the Disa Municipality, alongside 108 ambulance units, rushed to the site to carry out the rescue effort.
Fireworks are widely popular in India, especially during the Hindu festival of Diwali and wedding celebrations.
However, explosions are frequent in firecracker workshops, where owners often neglect basic safety regulations.
Last year, a firework factory explosion in Madhya Pradesh claimed 11 lives. In 2019, similar incidents killed at least 18 people in Punjab and 10 more in Uttar Pradesh.
