India, July 19 -- Nine persons were killed and six others injured in a blast and fire at an illegal firecracker factory in the Ramol area of Ahmedabad city in Gujarat on Saturday, officials said. The explosion and the resultant fire occurred at 3.30 pm at the factory located on Ramol-Gatrad Road, police said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. CM Patel also declared assistance for the families and the injured. The injured persons were transferred to two separate ...