At least nine people were killed and several others were injured following an explosion at an illegal firecracker unit in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.

The Press Trust of India said quoting a senior local police officer that the explosion took place at an illegal firecracker factory located at Egra killing nine people and injuring several others.

The residential building from which the factory was operating collapsed in the impact of the explosion and body parts were strewn all around.

“The illegal firecracker unit was functioning at a house in a village near the West Bengal-Odisha border.

The firecrackers manufactured there used to be sent to Odisha.

Local laborers were working there,” Chief Minister of the state Mamata Banerjee said.

The government also ordered a probe into the incident.

Source: Kuwait News Agency