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{{Infobox event
| title= 2023 Duttapukur fireworks factory disaster
| image=
| caption=
| date= {{start date and age|2023|08|27|df=yes}}
| time= approx 08:00 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| venue=
| place= Mochpol village, [[North 24 Parganas]], [[west Bengal]], India<ref name="anandabazar1"/>
| duration=
| coordinates=
| type= Fireworks disaster
| cause=
| deaths= 9<ref name="The-Hindu1"/>
| injuries= 5<ref name="timesofindia1"/>
}}

'''Duttapukur blast''' is an explosion that took place in 2023 at a firecracker factory at Mochpol village under Dattapukur police station, {{convert|6|km}} from [[Barasat]].<ref name="anandabazar1"/><ref name="anandabazar2">{{cite web |last1=Begum |first1=Sarmin |title=‘রাজ্য কাঁপিয়ে’ ফের বাজি কারখানায় প্রাণঘাতী বিস্ফোরণ! বারুদের গন্ধে ‘রহস্যময়’ যে দুই নাম |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/after-egra-and-budge-budge-row-over-another-blast-happen-in-dattapukur-of-north-24-pargana-dgtl/cid/1455392 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |date=27 August 2023}}</ref> The factory was on the second floor of a two-storey building, where the explosion and a major fire took place. No exact information was available on how many people were working in the factory at the time of the explosion. The explosion killed 8 people,<ref name="The-Hindu1"/> and injured 5 others<ref name="timesofindia1"/>.

After the incident, the [[West Bengal Police]] started a preliminary investigation. [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal ]] [[Mamata Banerjee]] instructed the Chief Secretary of West Bengal on 28 August 2023 to deal with the situation.<ref name="anandabazar3">{{cite web |title=এত রকম পদক্ষেপ সত্ত্বেও বাজি নিয়ে বার বার মুখ পুড়ছে কেন? মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর ক্ষোভের মুখে মুখ্যসচিব |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/cm-mamata-banerjee-shows-anger-on-duttapukur-blast-issue-in-cabinet-meeting-dgtl/cid/1455606 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |language=bn |trans-title=Despite all these steps, why is the same thing happening again and again? Chief Secretary in the face of Chief Minister's anger |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> On behalf of the West Bengal Police were suspended Shubharata Ghosh, IC of Duttapukur, and Himadri Dogra, OC of Nilganj outpost,<ref name="anandabazar4">{{cite web |title=দত্তপুকুর বিস্ফোরণকাণ্ডে সাসপেন্ড করা হল নীলগঞ্জ ফাঁড়ির ওসিকে, কর্তব্যে গাফিলতির অভিযোগ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/nilganj-outpost-oc-suspended-in-duttapukur-blast-case-dgtl/cid/1455556 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title=OC of Nilganj outpost has been suspended for the Duttapukur blast incident, allegations of dereliction of duty |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> for dereliction of duty.<ref name="anandabazar3"/>

==Background==
According to the local residents, Ajibar Rahman was the owner of this illegal firecracker factory of Mochpol village. He built this factory in a rented house from Shamsul Ali. The business was run by local resident Keramat Ali, who previously run a firecracker factory in Neem Pukuria area. After the 2023 Purba Medinipur blast, police moved to crack down on illegal firecracker factories across the [[West Bengal]], when Keramat was arrested because his firecracker factory at Neem Pukuria did not have a license after 2021. After getting bail, he again started a betting factory in Mochpol village of Duttapukur.<ref name="anandabazar5">{{cite web |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Rishi |title=‘আগে কিছু জানতাম না’ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/24-parganas/political-conflict-between-tmc-and-isf-regarding-duttapukur-blast/cid/1455415 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title="Didn't know anything before" |date=28 August 2023}}</ref>

==Explosion==
According to eyewitnesses, there was a massive explosion in the factory. The first explosion occurred around 8:30 am (local time).<ref name="indianexpress2"/> The two-storied building collapsed in the blast including the factory. The roof of the factory was torn off by the force of the blast, and the second floor was completely destroyed.<ref name="anandabazar6">{{cite web |title=এমন ধ্বংসলীলা! অবাক স্থানীয়েরা |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/local-people-are-shocked-to-see-the-destruction-after-the-blast-in-duttapukur/cid/1455418 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |language=bn |trans-title=Such destruction! Surprised locals |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> Buildings around the factory were damaged.<ref name="anandabazar7">{{cite web |last1=Begum |first1=Sarmin |title=গৃহপ্রবেশ হয়েছে ১৫ দিন আগে, ধ্বংস গেরস্থালিতে দাঁড়িয়ে মফিজুদ্দিনের চিন্তা রাতের রান্না হবে কোথায় |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/new-house-of-mason-got-cracked-due-to-blast-in-duttapukur-dgtld/cid/1455388 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title=The house was inaugurated 15 days ago, standing in the ruins, Mofizuddin thought where the dinner would be cooked|date=27 August 2023}}</ref>

The entire area was practically turned into rubble as a result of the blast. Factory workers get burnt, and body parts fell on the roofs and yards of neighboring houses a few hundred meters away from the factory.<ref name="anandabazar6"/><ref name="anandabazar8">{{cite web |last1=Begum |first1=Sarmin |title=ঘরের ভিতরে উড়ে এল মানুষের হাত! আরিফাদের চোখেমুখে আতঙ্ক, ক্ষোভের আগুনেও পুড়ছে মোচপোল |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/body-parts-of-people-flown-down-into-neighbours-house-in-duttapukur-dgtl/cid/1455326 |website=www.anandabazar.com |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title=Human hands flew inside the house! The fear in Arifad's eyes, also Mochpol is burning with anger |date=27 August 2023}}</ref>

==Casualties==
It was not possible to know how many people were present at the time of the explosion. 9 people died due to the explosion at Mochpol village.<ref name="The-Hindu1">{{cite web |title=W.B. firecracker factory blast: Death toll rises to nine; police arrest one |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/police-arrest-one-in-connection-with-duttapukur-illegal-firecracker-factory-blast/article67243845.ece |website=www.thehindu.com |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> Two of the dead had succumbed to their injuries.<ref name="timesofindia1">{{cite web |last1=Banerjee |first1=Tamaghna |title=8 killed, 5 injured in massive blast in firecracker factory |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/8-killed-5-injured-in-massive-blast-in-firecracker-factory-in-west-bengals-duttapukur/articleshow/103100998.cms?from=mdr |website=www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com |publisher=The Times of India |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=New Delhi |date=27 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress1">{{cite web |last1=Kumar |first1=Sweetyi |title=1 held over blast at illegal firecracker unit in Bengal’s Duttapukur, death toll rises to 8 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/west-bengal-north-24-parganas-firecracker-factory-explosion-deaths-8911630/ |website=www.indianexpress.com |publisher=The Indian Express |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> Among the dead were owner of the house and son of the factory owner.<ref name="anandabazar1">{{cite web |title=দত্তপুকুরকাণ্ডে মৃতদের মধ্যে বাজি কারখানার মালিকের পুত্র, প্রাণ গেল বাড়ির মালিকেরও |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/firecrackers-factory-owners-son-and-two-people-from-murshidabad-died-in-dattapukur-explosion-dgtld/cid/1455304 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title=Among the dead in the Dattapukur incident, the son of the owner of the betting factory, the owner of the house also lost his life |date=27 August 2023}}</ref> After the explosion, the [[West Bengal Police]] started searching for the causers. Police arrested one person on August 28, 2023.<ref name="timesofindia-indiatimes2">{{cite web |title=Firecracker Unit Blast: One arrested over blast at illegal firecracker unit in Duttapukur {{!}} West Bengal {{!}} City - Times of India Videos |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/kolkata/west-bengal-one-arrested-over-blast-at-illegal-firecracker-unit-in-duttapukur/videoshow/103136784.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=28 August 2023 |language=en |date=28 August 2023}}</ref>

==Investigation==
On August 27, a police search continued throughout the night in Mochpol village; A large quantity of soda powder and banned firecrackers were recovered. Police arrested Safiqul Islam, a partner of the firecracker factory, from Nilganj on 28 August.<ref name="indianexpress2">{{cite web |title=Bengal blast: Police arrests one in connection with illegal firecracker factory blast |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/duttapukur-illegal-firecracker-factory-blast-police-arrests-8912599/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |language=en |date=28 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="telegraphindia1">{{cite web |title=Bengal: Police arrests one in connection with Duttapukur illegal firecracker factory blast |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/bengal-police-arrests-one-in-connection-with-duttapukur-illegal-firecracker-factory-blast/cid/1962071 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |publisher=The Telegraph of India |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Kolkata |date=28 August 2023}}</ref> A total of 4 people have been charged under sections 286, 304, 308, 34, 9B of the Explosives Act and 24/26 Fire Service Act of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the explosion.<ref name="zeenews1">{{cite web |title=২১ ঘণ্টা পরেও উদ্ধার ছিন্নভিন্ন হাত-মুণ্ডু! দত্তপুকুর বিস্ফোরণকাণ্ডে প্রথম গ্রেফতার |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/state/first-arrest-in-duttapukur-blast-head-hand-and-body-parts-recovered-even-after-21-hours_485064.html |website=zeenews.india.com |publisher=Zeen 24 Ghanta |access-date=28 August 2023 |language=bn |date=28 August 2023}}</ref>

Police investigations also found another illegal firecracker factory within a kilometer of the blast site at Duttapukur.<ref name="anandabazar9">{{cite web |title=এক কিলোমিটারের মধ্যে আরও বিশাল একটি বাজি কারখানার হদিস! আড়াল করে রেখেছিল ইটভাটা |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/another-firecracker-factory-found-within-one-kilometer-of-duttapukur-blast-site-dgtl/cid/1455534 |website=www.anandabazar.com |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=28 August 2023 |location=Duttapukur |language=bn |trans-title=Location of a huge firecracker factory within one kilometer! Brickyard kept it hidden |date=28 August 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{Fireworks accidents and incidents}}

[[Category:Explosions in 2023]]
[[Category:Disasters in West Bengal]]
[[Category:2023 industrial disasters]]
[[Category:Industrial fires and explosions in India]]
[[Category:Fireworks accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Crime in West Bengal]]

Duttapukur blast - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article