Toll In Bengal Firecracker Factory Blast Rises To 10 As Prime Accused Succumbs In Odisha Hosp

Bhubaneswar: The toll in East Midnapore’s illegal firecracker factory blast rose to 10 with the prime accused, Krishnapada alias Bhanu Bag, succumbing to the burns at a private hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack on Friday.

West Bengal police had detained Bag, his son and nephew the previous day. They were not able to shift Bag, owner of the firecracker factory where an explosion on May 16 killed nine people and injured seven others, to Bengal since he had sustained 70% burns and his condition was critical.

Confirming his death, the district police superintendent of East Midnapore K. Amarnath said that efforts are on to bring back Bhanu to West Bengal.

Hours after the blast, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee handed over the probe to the criminal investigation department (CID) and promised strict action against the accused.

A known name in the business of illegal firecrackers, Bhanu was booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 304 (causing death by negligence), and under sections of the Fire Services Act.