23 Killed, 10 Injured In MP Firecracker Factory Blast 

Bhopal: At least 23 persons charred to death and 10 others injured in a powerful explosion in a firecracker factory in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. The blaze started around 3pm in the factory.

According to the police, 10 workers injured initially and 20 people were burnt alive in the factory and three workers died while being shifted to Nagpur hospital. "An explosion in the firecracker factory in Katera village in Kotwali police station jurisdiction around 3.30pm was so powerful that even factory walls collapsed due to the impact," Additional Director General of Police G. Janardan said.

According to Janardan, 18 bodies have been recovered from the blast site and relief and rescue operation is underway. "More bodies could be lying under the debris," the ADGP added.