Thirteen people, including nine from West Bengal, were killed in an explosion at a shop here on Saturday afternoon which led to the collapse of three adjacent houses, officials said.

Trapped under debris

Six persons were also injured in the incident. It is suspected that some people are still trapped under the debris and a rescue operation has been launched, they said.

The blast took place at the shop in Rohta Bazaar, which was run by a man named Kaliyar Mansoori. His son was running a carpet factory behind the shop and its workers could be among those trapped under the debris, District Magistrate Rajendra Prasad said, adding the injured have been admitted to hospital.

Locals claimed that Mansoori was also in the business of making illegal firecrackers.