Kaushambi: Eleven people, including eight children, were killed and five injured after a massive explosion at a firecracker factory, whose licence had been cancelled in 2024. The explosion destroyed the factory building and six other houses in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Several people were feared trapped under the debris, and a large-scale rescue operation was underway. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire brigade and Air Force personnel were at the site, they said.
All the deceased persons resided in the vicinity of the factory, the officials said.
Superintendent of Police Satnarayan Prajapat said a case was registered at the Pipri police station under relevant sections of the BNS and the Explosives Act against six individuals, including the factory operator Adil.
Charges will also be filed under the Gangsters Act, and proceedings to seize the assets of the accused will be initiated. Four police teams have been constituted to arrest the accused, he said.
District Magistrate (DM) of Kaushambi, Amit Pal, said the blast occurred at the firecracker factory in Manori village and five to six houses located adjacent to the factory also collapsed due to the impact.
"The factory was granted an explosives licence in 2019, which was originally valid till 2026. However, the licence was cancelled in 2024. A detailed inquiry is underway to ascertain how the factory continued to operate after cancellation of its licence and to fix responsibility at every level. Strict action will be taken against all persons found guilty," the DM told PTI.
He said 11 of the injured, who had been referred to SRN Hospital in Prayagraj, died during treatment. Five seriously injured people are undergoing treatment at the same hospital.
Given the intensity of the blast, train operations on the Delhi-Howrah railway line passing near the site were suspended for about an hour. The Ajmer-Sealdah Express, which had reached near the incident site, was sent back to Manori railway station, while the Vande Bharat Express travelling from Delhi to Varanasi was stopped at Saiyad Sarawan railway station, one station before the site.
The Manori Air Force Station is located around two kilometres from the site.
Senior police officials rushed to the site after the blast. More than a dozen fire tenders and around two dozen ambulances were deployed at the site.
"The fire brigade had brought the blaze under control and rescue teams are continuing to clear the debris and excavators are being used to remove the rubble," an official said.
Police suspect that more people might be trapped underneath, and therefore, the death toll could rise further.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and announced an ex gratia for the kin of the victims.
"Instructions have been issued to local officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and to reach out to the affected families to provide all possible assistance. Furthermore, directives have been issued to provide financial aid of ₹ 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 each to the injured," Adityanath said.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the SRN Hospital in Prayagraj to inquire about the well-being of the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Krishna Paswan, the Uttar pradesh Minister of State for Dairy Development and the minister in-charge of the district, also reached the site late this evening. She met with the families of the victims and assured them of all possible assistance.
He said that the factory is being demolished. In accordance with government directives, the strictest possible measures such as seizure of assets will be implemented, and the harshest action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, the minister said.