Blast at India fireworks factory kills more than 20

Residents and politicians say authorities failed to close illegal factory that caused a fatal explosion in 2017

An explosion at a fireworks factory in northern India has killed at least 22 people and caused the building to catch fire and collapse, officials have said.

Police officer Mukhtiar Singh said 15 other people were injured in Wednesday's blast in Batala, a town in Punjab state about 460km (285 miles) north of New Delhi. Singh said rescue work was continuing at the site.