Balaghat: At least 25 people were killed on June 7 after a fire broke out in a cracker factory at Bhatan village in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
The ANI news agency reported the fire began around 3 pm in the factory, located about 10 km from the district headquarters. Most victims are believed to be factory workers.
Earlier the Press Trust of India agency quoted district collector Bharat Yadav saying that eight bodies were recovered from the debris, the death toll has seemingly gone up. Some injured persons were admitted to nearby hospitals. It is not clear what caused the fire.
Yadav told reporters that a probe will determine the amount of explosives the factory was allowed to keep.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condoled the deaths and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees. The injured will be treated at hospitals with government assistance, he added.