A massive explosion rocked Khadikul village at an illegal ‘firecracker factory’, suspected to be a bomb-making unit, under the Egra police station of Purba Medinipur district. The blast was so huge that it was heard from a few kilometres away. 

As per locals, hearing the blast sound, they rushed to the spot. There they saw that the burnt bodies were scattered here and there. Parts of bodies were also seen found in a pond nearby the factory. Immediately police and fire brigade rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fires. 

As per sources, the factory was running illegally without necessary permission and massive explosives was piled there. That may be the reason for the blast. But some locals also expressed doubts that bombs would have been made there. As the Panchayet election is coming up, TMC cadres are making bombs there, they alleged. 

BJP MLA from Nandigram and the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, directly pointed out to the ruling party TMC for this blast. In his tweet, Mr Adhikari alleged that the factory’s owner is Krishnapada Bag, a known TMC leader. Suvendu Adhikari also alleged that the police did nothing to close the illegal factory.

As of now, several burnt bodies have been recovered from the blast site. As per unconfirmed sources, 15 bodies have been recovered, and some said the number is 22. The exact number is yet to be confirmed by the police.