Ahmedabad: At least nine persons, including three children, were killed and several others sustained severe burn injuries after a powerful explosion ripped through an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in the Ramol area on Saturday afternoon, said fire and police officers. Police have detained the factory owner for questioning and a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder along with relevant provisions of the Explosives Act was registered.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 a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.Eye-witnesses said the blast was so intense that debris was hurled nearly 300 metres away, damaging nearby structures and setting standing crops in adjoining fields on fire. The explosion occurred around 3.30pm at a tin-shed unit operating on an open plot along the Ramol-Gatrad Road, behind the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp. Around 15 people were inside the premises when the blast occurred. Five people who sustained severe injuries were shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and LG Municipal Hospital, wherein condition of three is reported to be critical.The RAF, whose camp is about a kilometre away, was the first to respond after personnel heard the explosion. A Quick Reaction Team reached the site within minutes and began rescuing victims trapped inside the burning structure before fire brigade teams and local police arrived. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control after deploying multiple fire tenders.The impact of the explosion was felt across the locality. Doors and ceiling fans in a room nearly 300 metres from the factory were damaged, while pieces of twisted metal and debris landed on trees and in nearby fields. Thick smoke was visible from several kilometres away. The witness said cries of “save us” could be heard from the premises.Civic authorities and senior police official visited the accident site later. Mayor Hitesh Barot said the unit operated illegally and strict action would be initiated against the culprits.Sector-2 Additional Commissioner of Police Jaypal Singh Rathore said the factory’s licence was cancelled and yet having already been cancelled. “The incident occurred behind the RAF camp on Ramol-Gatrad Road. A man named Mehul Dodiya was operating an illegal firecracker factory in an open field near a canal. Although the factory’s licence had already been cancelled, the factory continued operations. The RAF extended immediate assistance, while local police and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation fire teams reached the spot promptly. The fire is now under control,” Rathore said.He added that Ramol police would register a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder along with relevant provisions of the Explosives Act. “Forensic Science Laboratory teams and other agencies have been called to examine the site. The exact cause of the explosion will be established after the investigation,” he said.Police detained the factory operator for questioning. Police began examining whether children were employed at the unit and whether explosive materials were being stored in violation of safety norms.Chief fire officer AA Dongre said that nine people died in the blast and various others were injured in the case.