At least 10 people were killed in a fire at a firecracker factory in the Deesa town of the Banaskantha district of Gujarat on Tuesday, April 1. According to news agency PTI, Inspector Vijay Chaudhary of Deesa Rural Police Station said that many workers were trapped when some parts of the factory near the town collapsed due to a series of explosions after the fire broke out.
Banaskantha Collector Mihir Patel said, "This morning, we received information about a big explosion in the industrial area of Deesa. The fire brigade reached the spot and controlled the fire. 10 workers died on the spot. Many injured workers were referred to different hospitals. The explosion was so powerful that the factory has collapsed."
The fire was reported around 9.30 AM. Multiple firetenders rushed to the spot to control the fire. An SDRF team is also on the spot to assist in rescue operations. According to sources, more people are feared to be trapped under the debris, or dead.
The owner of the factory-cum-warehouse is absconding, said the police.
(With inputs from Ronak Patel, ABP Asmita)