Despite the high temperatures from the blaze, efforts to clear debris were successful. The death toll stands at 11, with over 200 injured.

The Chief Minister met injured persons undergoing treatment at a hospital in Harda, located around 150 km from state capital Bhopal, and enquired about their condition.

The tragedy has reignited long-standing grievances among residents who had repeatedly petitioned for the relocation of the firecrackers unit to a safer location.

The two factory owners -- identified as Rajesh Agrawal and Somesh Agrawal -- were arrested on Tuesday evening from Sarangpur in Rajgarh district, while one more person named Rafiq Khan was detained, Harda Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kanchan told reporters.

Hospitals in Indore, Bhopal, and the AIIMS in the state capital have been instructed to prepare burn units for potential emergencies.