2 more die, death toll in Egra firework factory blast rises to 12

Rabindra and Pinki were admitted to a hospital in Egra with grave injuries after the blast on Tuesday

The site of the explosion at Khadikul village near Egra in East Midnapore on Tuesday: The Telegraph

Anshuman Phadikar, TT, Tamluk, 21.05.23 : Two persons who had suffered injuries in the firework factory blast at Egra on Tuesday died at SSKM Hospital in Calcutta over Friday night and Saturday, taking the total toll so far to 12.

Rabindra Maiti, 38, died at SSKM Hospital on Friday night while Pinki Maiti, 24, passed away at the same health facility on Saturday morning. Pinki is survived by a minor son and husband. Rabindra has left behind his wife and minor son.

Reacting to Pinki's death, her maternal uncle, Nirmal Patra, said: "Her husband suffers from physical difficulties and Pinki's earnings supported the family."

An inconsolable mother of Rabindra said: "My younger son worked for Bhanu Bag, who had promised to build me a house. I am appealing to the government to help us. We have no land. If the government does not help us, our family will not survive." Bag, the owner of the factory, had succumbed to burn injuries at a private hospital in Odisha on Friday.

Rabindra and Pinki were admitted to a hospital in Egra with grave injuries after the blast on Tuesday. Later, on the instructions of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, they were brought from Egra to SSKM Hospital through a green corridor. At the time of admission, the two had 90 per cent burns.