AdvertisementAdvertisementA file photo of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo: Indian Prime Minister's Office via AP)01 Mar 2026 02:57AM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInAdd CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST NEW DELHI: An explosion at a firecracker factory in India killed at least 21 people and injured eight others on Saturday (February 28), officials told local media.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X that he was "pained by the loss of lives" and extended his condolences after the blast in Kakinada, in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh.The Press Trust of India news agency quoted state minister Kandula Durgesh as confirming there were 21 deaths, out of around 30 people who were at the factory at the time of the explosion."Another eight persons are undergoing treatment in hospitals," Durgesh added.Authorities have launched a probe into the incident, which the state's chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called "heartbreaking".Fireworks are hugely popular in India, particularly during the Hindu festival of Diwali and wedding celebrations.Explosions are common in firecracker workshops, often due to disregard for safety requirements and lax enforcement.Last year, a firework factory explosion in western India killed 21 people.India's GDP growth estimated at 7.8% in Oct-Dec following data revampRenewables a key focus at India Energy WeekSource: AFP/fsNewsletterMorning BriefSubscribe to CNA’s Morning BriefAn automated curation of our top stories to start your day.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST