At least 11 people died and seven sustained injuries after an explosion took place at a firecracker factory in Pingla division of West Bengal's Midnapore district late on Wednesday.
"Eleven people have been killed and seven others injured in the explosion that took place in a fire cracker factory. The condition of the injured is critical, the toll may rise," superintendent of police Bharati Ghosh told IANS.
The locals have alleged that the firecracker factory was actually used to make bombs and claim that the death toll could rise. The owner of the factory Ranjan Maity has been absconding ever since the explosion took place.
"The explosion was so loud that it shook nearby houses and cracks have also developed. Maity is a criminal and he used the factory to make bombs. Bodies are still strewn inside the factory. Many more have died," a local resident said.
