BARASAT: Standing outside her home with a tin shed, Rabeya Bibi - the first wife of Keramat Ali (52), one of the owners of the illegal firecracker manufacturing unit where an explosion on Sunday killed Ali, his son Rabiul (21) and several others - was cursing herself for allowing Rabiul to go and meet his father, who didn't even live with them.
Rabeya was one of the locals who were in shock on seeing the remains of the victims' bodies - mangled flesh, severed hand on bed and body on roof - on Sunday morning.
"Keramat lived with his second wife but he used to call our son to the factory for odd jobs and my son had to oblige as we were dependent on him. On Sunday, Rabiul had to go out with his friends and was initially reluctant to meet his father," said Rabeya.
Rabiul was a second-year student at a Madhyamgram college and had resumed studies after a year's gap. He wanted to be a photographer and on Sunday, four of their friends had planned to shoot 'kash' flowers.
"We were waiting for Rabiul as he went to the factory to meet his father. Within moments the blast happened. We ran in and went to the place where the office was located and dragged Rabiul's lifeless body out. We took him to Barasat district hospital where he was declared dead," said one of his friends.
While the incident killed at least seven and left several injured, there were some, who managed to escape.
"My six-year-old daughter was alone at home when the blast took place. Such was the impact that the roof of the factory fell on our roof. I ran inside and grabbed my child and ran out from the rear door, moments before the roof collapsed," said Tajmira Bibi.
Equally scared was Arifa Bibi, who was cooking at home when a severed hand of a victim pierced her roof made of tiles, around 150 metres from the factory, and landed on their bed. "We left the room in panic and didn't enter till the cops took it away," said Bibi.
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