Eight killed, nine injured in Ahmedabad firecracker factory blast

AHMEDABAD: Eight people were killed and nine others were injured after an explosion ripped through a firecracker manufacturing unit in the Vastral area of Ahmedabad on Saturday afternoon.

The blast occurred at approximately 3:30 PM at the Talent Fireworks factory. Emergency services, including police and fire brigade units, were dispatched to the site, where they successfully brought the resulting blaze under control. The nine individuals who sustained injuries were transported to LG Hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities confirmed that the factory was operating illegally at the time of the incident, noting that the establishment's license had been cancelled previously. Police have since registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blast and the unauthorised operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. The government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the kin of each of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured in the explosion.