NEW DELHI, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the deadly fire incident inside a fireworks factory in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has rose to 25, local officials said Thursday.
According to officials, five critically injured workers in the incident are undergoing treatment in a hospital.
The fire on Wednesday triggered series of blasts inside the factory at village Khairi in Balaghat district, about 437 km southeast of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.
"Of the 10 people injured in the incident five succumbed at the hospital," Bharat Yadav, Balaghat district collector told Xinhua. "As of now the death toll in the incident has gone up to 25."
Officials said rescuers have retrieved all the bodies from the debris of factory.
According to officials more than 40 workers mostly women were inside the legally-run factory at the time of fire.
The cause of blasts and subsequent fire inside the factory was yet to be known.
"It is a matter of investigation to find out the actual cause of fire," a senior police official said. "The post-mortem on the bodies have been conducted and then samples from the spot were also collected. We will soon be able to find out the cause behind the fire."
Reports said there is a suspicion that someone might have thrown a burning beedi (a type of cheap cigarette made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves) inside the factory, when the production was going on.
Hospital authorities said some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a compensation of 3,100 US dollars to each of the families that lost kin in the tragedy, besides free medical treatment for the injured.
Firefighters doused the flame completely by Wednesday evening.
"It took several hours for firefighters to douse the flames and retrieve bodies from the debris," Anil Patley, a local official said. "Since the factory was located away from the human settlement that is why the fire didn't spread and remained confined within the factory."
Accidental explosions are common at Indian fireworks factories and shops.
Chances of fire in Indian factories and buildings are often high as owners usually ignore safety standards vis-a-vis fire.
In India firecrackers are set off during festivals, weddings and other merrymaking ceremonies.