18 KILLED, MANY TRAPPED INSIDE FACTORY AFTER EXPLOSION, FIRE ENGINES ON SPOT 

In a sad and shocking case, at least 18 people were killed and dozens are feared trapped after a massive explosion broke out at a firecracker making factory in Punjab's Gurdaspur.

The incident took place around 4:00 pm in a residential area in Gurdaspur's Batala city.

As per Inspector General (Border Range) SPS Parmar, "The impact of the explosion was such that the factory was completely destroyed and nearby buildings were damaged too."

Minutes after the explosion, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said rescue operations are underway.

"Deeply anguished to learn of the loss of lives due to the blast in the firecracker factory in Batala. Rescue operations are underway with the DC & SSP heading the relief efforts," he tweeted.

Currently, teams of the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF and the State Disaster Response Force or SDRF are helping in the rescue operations. 

Deeply anguished to learn of the loss of lives due to the blast in the firecracker factory in Batala. Rescue operations are underway with the DC & SSP heading the relief efforts.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) September 4, 2019