India, April 1 -- Eighteen people were killed and several others sustained grievous injuries after a fire, triggered by a boiler explosion, broke out at a firecracker factory godown on Dhunva Road in Deesa town of Banaskantha district of Gujarat on Tuesday.

"Eighteen immigrant workers have lost their lives in the incident. No licence was issued for this facility. As per primary information, about 23 people were working at the time of the incident, and five of them sustained injuries. They have been rushed to a nearby hospital," health minister Rushikesh Patel said.

"The death toll is seventeen as of now. There was a blast in the godown where firecrackers were stored. A slab has fallen where many workers were working," CP Patel, resident...