The death toll in the blast at a brick kiln in Bihar’s East Champaran district climbed to nine on Saturday while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief and announced compensation for the kin of the deceased.

The incident that happened at Narirgir in Ramgarhwa block on Friday evening has left more than 25 people injured. Many of them are in serious condition and are being treated at government hospitals.

Reacting to the information about the mishap, Modi tweeted on Saturday: “Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a brick kiln in Motihari. Condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers with the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.”

It was followed by Nitish condoling the deaths in the incident.

He announced Rs 4 lakh to the family of each of the deceased as compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

“The state government will bear the expenditure on the treatment of the injured. We have directed the health department to make adequate medical arrangements,” Nitish said.

According to the people staying in Narirgir, the explosion happened when the furnace, in which mud bricks are baked, was lit. This was the first time this season that the kiln was being operated and a feast had been thrown to celebrate the occasion.

“The sound of the explosion was like a thunderclap. The ground beneath our feet shook.

We all fell down and then ran helter-skelter.

Smoke was billowing all around the kiln and its 30-metre-high chimney was collapsing. The rubble fell on the people who were there to attend the feast.

Several of them died on the spot. I sustained minor injuries,” said Parma Sah, an eyewitness who also attended the feast.

The dead included brick kiln owner Muhammad Irshad, workers and a few people who were attending the feast.

A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Bettiah in West Champaran district and the local district administration officials participated in the rescue operation, which ended on Saturday.

East Champaran district magistrate Shirsat Kapil Ashok told The Telegraph that “several of the deceased, especially labourers, were from other parts of the state and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh as brick kiln owners prefer hiring workers from outside to avoid disputes.”

Ashok added that an enquiry would be conducted into the blast to find out any operational lapses and to fix the responsibility of government officials if any.