MIDNAPORE: Eleven people were charred to death and four others injured in an explosion in an illegal firecracker unit at Pingla in West Midnapore district.
"Eleven charred bodies have been recovered so far. Four injured have been admitted to hospital," police officials said.
On the reason behind the blast, District Superintendent of Police B Ghosh said, "We are looking into it. Probably something went wrong during manufacturing of crackers."
The bodies were badly burnt and it is difficult to even identify their gender, the officials said, adding the bodies were taken to Midnapore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.
Police said the factory is illegal and the blast took place shortly before 10 PM last night and the fire has been put out.
All the victims were employees of the factory who were brought from Murshidabad district, police said.
The police detained the owner of the house, Ranjan Maiti, and are looking for another person in connection with the explosion.
Police said they were scanning for other such firecracker units in neighbouring areas like Sabang and Balichak, besides Pingla.
Meanwhile, CID sources in Kolkata said that a CID team is going to visit Pingla during the day and a central forensic team has reached there.