New Delhi: At least 12 persons were killed and 10 others were injured in an explosion at a fire-cracker factory at Pingla of West Midnapur in the Indian state of Paschimbanga on Wednesday, reports BSS.

According to Paschimbanga police, all the victims were staff members of the factory where the blast occurred shortly before 10 pm. The fire has been put out.

Witnesses said that body parts of the victims were scattered all over the place and the impact of the blast caused cracks in several mud houses in the area.

“The incident took place late at night. Police teams are working at the spot. The police have reported that they have recovered 12 bodies as of now,” police sources said.

The factory owner, Ram Maity and his wife were reportedly dead in the incident, and another owner Ranjan Maity has been arrested in the morning while he was trying to flee from the area.

The villagers claimed that Ranjan Maity is a well known TMC worker in the area. The factory was running in the garb of a local warehouse at the house of one Ram Maity.

The case that was lodged with Pingla police, has been taken over by the CID.

The bomb squad of CID has already reached the spot while the explosive experts from Kolkata is on their way to Pingla.