At Least 21 Killed in Firecracker Factory Explosion in India

Kathmandu. At least 21 people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory in India on Saturday, local media reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

The Indian news agency, Press Trust of India (PTI), quoting State Minister Kandula Durgesh, confirmed that at least 21 people died in the incident. Durgesh stated that eight more people are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The state's Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered an investigation into the incident.

The celebration involving firecrackers is very popular in India, especially during the Hindu festival of Diwali and the wedding season.

Explosions at firecracker factories occur frequently in India, but incidents resulting in human casualties raise questions about the practices of firecracker production and use.

Last year, 21 people died in a firecracker factory explosion in the western region of India.