Duttapukur blast

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2023 Duttapukur fireworks factory disaster
Date27 August 2023; 7 months ago (2023-08-27)
Timeapprox 08:00 IST
LocationMochpol village, North 24 Parganas, west Bengal, India[1]
Coordinates22.7358 N,88.4464 E
TypeFireworks disaster
Deaths9[2]
Non-fatal injuries12[3]

Duttapukur blast was an explosion that took place in 2023 at a firecracker factory at Mochpol village under Duttapukur police station, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Barasat.[1][4] The factory was on the second floor of a two-storey building, where the explosion and a major fire took place. No exact information was available on how many people were working in the factory at the time of the explosion. The explosion killed 9 people, and injured 12 others.[3]

After the incident, the West Bengal Police started a preliminary investigation. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee instructed the Chief Secretary of West Bengal on 28 August 2023 to deal with the situation.[5] On behalf of the West Bengal Police were suspended Shubharata Ghosh, IC of Duttapukur, and Himadri Dogra, OC of Nilganj outpost,[6] for dereliction of duty.[5]

Background[edit]

According to the local residents, Ajibar Rahman was the owner of this illegal firecracker factory of Mochpol village. He built this factory in a rented house from Shamsul Ali. The business was run by local resident Keramat Ali, who previously run a firecracker factory in Neem Pukuria area. After the 2023 Purba Medinipur blast, police moved to crack down on illegal firecracker factories across the West Bengal, when Keramat was arrested because his firecracker factory at Neem Pukuria did not have a license after 2021. After getting bail, he again started a betting factory in Mochpol village of Duttapukur.[7]

Explosion[edit]

According to eyewitnesses, there was a massive explosion in the factory. The first explosion occurred around 8:30 am (local time).[8] The two-storied building collapsed in the blast including the factory. The roof of the factory was torn off by the force of the blast, and the second floor was completely destroyed.[9] Buildings around the factory were damaged.[10]

The entire area was practically turned into rubble as a result of the blast. Factory workers get burnt, and body parts fell on the roofs and yards of neighboring houses a few hundred meters away from the factory.[9][11]

Casualties[edit]

It was not possible to know how many people were present at the time of the explosion. 9 people died due to the explosion at Mochpol village.[2] Two of the dead had succumbed to their injuries.[12][13] Among the dead were owner of the house and son of the factory owner.[1] After the explosion, the West Bengal Police started searching for the causers. Police arrested one person on August 28, 2023.[14]

Investigation[edit]

On August 27, a police search continued throughout the night in Mochpol village; A large quantity of soda powder and banned firecrackers were recovered. Police arrested Safiqul Islam, a partner of the firecracker factory, from Nilganj on 28 August.[8][15] A total of 4 people have been charged under sections 286, 304, 308, 34, 9B of the Explosives Act and 24/26 Fire Service Act of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the explosion.[16]

Police investigations also found another illegal firecracker factory within a kilometer of the blast site at Duttapukur.[17] A preliminary forensic report indicated that the ignition of a large quantity of 'low-intensity explosives' caused the powerful explosion at Mochpol village of Dattapukur in North 24 Parganas. An investigating officer said that there was a large stockpile of low-intensity explosives, which are normally used in small quantities in making firecrackers, and other raw materials and chemicals in the house unsafely could have led to the massive explosion.[3]

West Bengal's Special Task Force arrested the accused supplying chemicals to the illegal firecrackers factory in Duttapukur outside the Kolkata airport late on 31 August.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "দত্তপুকুরকাণ্ডে মৃতদের মধ্যে বাজি কারখানার মালিকের পুত্র, প্রাণ গেল বাড়ির মালিকেরও" [Among the dead in the Dattapukur incident, the son of the owner of the betting factory, the owner of the house also lost his life]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "W.B. firecracker factory blast: Death toll rises to nine; police arrest one". www.thehindu.com. Kolkata: The Hindu. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "West Bengal: Low-intensity explosives led to Duttapukur blas". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  4. ^ Begum, Sarmin (27 August 2023). "'রাজ্য কাঁপিয়ে' ফের বাজি কারখানায় প্রাণঘাতী বিস্ফোরণ! বারুদের গন্ধে 'রহস্যময়' যে দুই নাম". Anandabazar (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b "এত রকম পদক্ষেপ সত্ত্বেও বাজি নিয়ে বার বার মুখ পুড়ছে কেন? মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর ক্ষোভের মুখে মুখ্যসচিব" [Despite all these steps, why is the same thing happening again and again? Chief Secretary in the face of Chief Minister's anger]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ^ "দত্তপুকুর বিস্ফোরণকাণ্ডে সাসপেন্ড করা হল নীলগঞ্জ ফাঁড়ির ওসিকে, কর্তব্যে গাফিলতির অভিযোগ" [OC of Nilganj outpost has been suspended for the Duttapukur blast incident, allegations of dereliction of duty]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  7. ^ Chakraborty, Rishi (28 August 2023). "'আগে কিছু জানতাম না'" ["Didn't know anything before"]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Bengal blast: Police arrests one in connection with illegal firecracker factory blast". The Indian Express. Kolkata. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b "এমন ধ্বংসলীলা! অবাক স্থানীয়েরা" [Such destruction! Surprised locals]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  10. ^ Begum, Sarmin (27 August 2023). "গৃহপ্রবেশ হয়েছে ১৫ দিন আগে, ধ্বংস গেরস্থালিতে দাঁড়িয়ে মফিজুদ্দিনের চিন্তা রাতের রান্না হবে কোথায়" [The house was inaugurated 15 days ago, standing in the ruins, Mofizuddin thought where the dinner would be cooked]. Anandabazar (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  11. ^ Begum, Sarmin (27 August 2023). "ঘরের ভিতরে উড়ে এল মানুষের হাত! আরিফাদের চোখেমুখে আতঙ্ক, ক্ষোভের আগুনেও পুড়ছে মোচপোল" [Human hands flew inside the house! The fear in Arifad's eyes, also Mochpol is burning with anger]. www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Duttapukur. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. ^ Banerjee, Tamaghna (27 August 2023). "8 killed, 5 injured in massive blast in firecracker factory". www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. New Delhi: The Times of India. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ Kumar, Sweetyi (28 August 2023). "1 held over blast at illegal firecracker unit in Bengal's Duttapukur, death toll rises to 8". www.indianexpress.com. Kolkata: The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Firecracker Unit Blast: One arrested over blast at illegal firecracker unit in Duttapukur | West Bengal | City - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Bengal: Police arrests one in connection with Duttapukur illegal firecracker factory blast". www.telegraphindia.com. Kolkata: The Telegraph of India. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  16. ^ "২১ ঘণ্টা পরেও উদ্ধার ছিন্নভিন্ন হাত-মুণ্ডু! দত্তপুকুর বিস্ফোরণকাণ্ডে প্রথম গ্রেফতার". zeenews.india.com (in Bengali). Zeen 24 Ghanta. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  17. ^ "এক কিলোমিটারের মধ্যে আরও বিশাল একটি বাজি কারখানার হদিস! আড়াল করে রেখেছিল ইটভাটা" [Location of a huge firecracker factory within one kilometer! Brickyard kept it hidden]. www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Duttapukur: Anandabazar Patrika. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  18. ^ Dwaipayan Ghosh (2 September 2023). "Duttapukur blast: STF arrests cracker 'kingpin' at Kolkata airport". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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