Solapur fireworks factory blaze kills 3 women; three critical

KOLHAPUR: Three women died and three others were critically injured in a fire that broke out at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Pangti village of Barshi tehsil in Solapur district on Sunday afternoon.
Seven others too are recuperating from their injuries. According to local authorities, the factory has more than 40 workers - most of them women. The fire broke out while the explosive material, used in the manufacture of fireworks, were being handled, said an official.
The injured workers were immediately taken to Barshi's public hospital. Virendra Patil, the health officer, said three women were dead on arrival. They had died of burn injuries. The three others are still critical, he added.
District collector Milind Shambharkar said fire tenders were sent to the spot. He said the work to identify the deceased and injured was still going on.
According to eyewitnesses, the entire factory was up in flames. The blaze was so massive that dry grass over two kilometres from the periphery of the factory too was singed. A heavy earthmover too was gutted in the fire.