The fire broke out at an illegal cracker factory in Nilganj Jagannathpur, about 35 km from Kolkata.
A 13-year-old boy was killed in a fire that broke out after an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory near Kolkata. Some workers were also reportedly injured,
Rahul Das was burnt to death much before the two fire engines doused the flames. The owner of the factory, Zulfikar Ali Mondal, has been arrested. He was allegedly operating in the factory for some years.
The explosion, that took place around 11 am, rocked the crowded residential locality in Nilganj Jagannathpur, about 35 km from Kolkata.
There are 50-60 such illegal firework factories in that area, claimed locals.
Rahul had apparently been working at the factory during his school holidays, earning Rs 150 per day. Adult workers were paid Rs 300 per day. His parents were too distraught to speak.
"Two, three people die in these illegal factories every year. Police knows. But money is involved and nothing changes," a neighbor Bapi Das said.