2 killed, 5 injured in firecracker unit blast in UP

According to officials, there were seven persons inside the factory, including its owner Mohammad Khalid, at the time of the blast that took place around 2.30 pm.

The deceased have been identified as Eeshwar Lal and Khursheed, both workers at the cracker unit.

Following the blast, fire tenders were sent to the spot. Two of the injured have been shifted to a Lucknow hospital.

“The firecracker manufacturing unit had a valid licence to store and manufacture up to 15 kg of crackers until March next year. Primary facie, no violations have been found so far. The sub-divisional magistrate and the local circle officer had inspected the factory before Diwali, and it was found to be following the laid-down norms,” the DM said.

The DM said that, according to the chief fire officer, there were explosives for making firecrackers, which, if rubbed, could cause fire, and this could be a reason behind the fire and the blast.

Inspector General (Ayodhya Range) Praveen Kumar, who also reached the spot along with the DM, told The Indian Express that he has asked the local police and the fire officials to probe into the reasons behind the fire and the blast.

Police have sealed the site and called in a forensic team to collect evidence. Efforts are on to clear the debris and search for anyone who might still be trapped inside, officials said.