New Delhi, April 1 -- As many as 21 people have lost their lives, and two others injured in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing godown in Gujarat on Tuesday. The Banaskantha district collector said the blast was so intense that "it sent body parts of workers flying 200-300 metres away".

According to officials, after the explosion, a blaze ripped through a godown where the firecrackers were allegedly stored and manufactured illegally, leading to the structure collapse in Banaskantha district.

The explosion, which occurred at approximately 9:45 AM, flattened the godown in an industrial area near Deesa town, around 30 km from the Banaskantha district headquarters.

"All the deceased persons were originally from Haliya village in Harta d...