The mother of the eight-year-old boy who died in an explosion in Nagerbazar on Tuesday, continues to be under observation at SSKM Hospital and critical.

Sita Ghosh and her younger son, Bibhas, were admitted to the hospital with severe burns. Bibhas, who died half an hour later, was cremated in Kulpi on Wednesday but his mother remains unaware of the tragedy.

Bibhas’s blood pressure had dropped very low, he was bleeding profusely, had severe burns in his head, face and neck and the flesh on his legs was mangled.

“He was cremated a few minutes ago at a burning ghat in Kulpi. My wife is battling for life in hospital. I will reach the hospital at night,” said Bibhas’s father, Janmejoy, on Wednesday evening.

The family lived in Kulpi, South 24-Parganas, before Janmejoy got a job at the Motijheel shop of Basanti Sweets and shifted to a rented accommodation near Nagerbazar.

His wife and son were in front of the Nagerbazar outlet of the sweet shop when the bomb went off in front of a store room of the shop.

“She is fighting for her life and there was no question of telling her about Bibhas’s death. I am worried how she will react when I disclose the news to her,” Janmejoy said.

Sita was admitted to SSKM with 50 per cent burns. Doctors at the hospital said she was not hit by splinters. “She suffered burn injuries on her legs and the upper portion of the body. She will be under observation for another 48 hours,” said a doctor attached to the burns unit of the hospital.

“Her condition is still critical. She has been kept under observation. She ate in the morning,” said Manimoy Bandopadhyay, the director of SSKM. “She is conscious and reacting to questions.”

Janmejoy demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the explosion. “The dreams that I had woven around my son have been shattered. I appeal to police to track down the culprits and throw them behind bars for the rest of their lives,” he said.

The father wished the boy had not accompanied his mother on Tuesday morning. “Sita was taking him to an apartment in the building that houses the sweet shop. I heard they fell on the road,” he said.

Sita had been mumbling after her admission to hospital that “Biltu” (Bibhas’s nickname) wanted to stay with their elderly neighbours but she insisted on him going with her.