Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Khadikul village near Egra in East Midnapore district on May 30 to meet the families who lost their kin in a blast at an illegal fireworks factory last week.

She is likely to be accompanied by her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, sources said.

During her visit, the chief minister will hand over financial assistance to the bereaved families. She had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each for the next of kin of those who had died in the blast. So far, 12 people have lost their lives in the incident.

“Earlier, it had been decided that the chief minister would visit Khadikul on Thursday. But there has been a change in the plan and she will come next week,” said minister Akhil Giri, Trinamul’s Ramnagar MLA.

Sources in the East Midnapore administration said they had already built a temporary helipad at Alipur, which is about a kilometre from Khadikul, for Mamata’s visit.

Abhishek who is currently touring Bengal for an outreach programme of the Trinamul Congress, will reach Egra from West Midnapore on May 30. Trinamul sources revealed that there were plans for him to accompany Mamata to Khadikul and that was why the chief minister’s initial plans were altered.

Egra is 20km from Khadikul.

Earlier, a Trinamul delegation led by minister Manas Bhuinya, Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen and others had tried to visit Khadikul, but the villagers had stopped them and forced them to turn back.

BJP leaders have repeatedly visited the village. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari led a rally in Egra on Tuesday demanding an NIA probe into the blast.

Sources in Trinamul said Mamata’s visit to Khadikul was crucial to pacify the infuriated villagers who appeared to be siding with the BJP.

Arrest

The CID arrested Geeta Bag, wife of the late Bhanu Bag, the owner of the illegal fireworks factory, on Wednesday morning. Bhanu, who had fled to Odisha with severe burns, had succumbed to the injuries at a hospital there.