Prayagraj-Kaushambi Border Firecracker Factory Blast Kills 5, Injures 15

A massive explosion rocked a firecracker factory on the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The blast killed five people, including two children, and left 15 others injured.

Police said the explosion completely demolished the factory. It damaged eight houses within a 100-metre radius. Three of these houses collapsed.

The impact was so intense that residents heard the blast nearly 2 km away. A thick cloud of smoke soon covered the area. The explosion caused cracks in nearby houses.

Villagers rushed to the site after hearing the blast. They pulled injured workers from the factory and carried them on charpoys through fields towards hospitals.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravi Gupta and personnel from the Puramufti police station rushed to the scene.

Police teams are supervising rescue operations and evacuating nearby residents to prevent further casualties.

Authorities alerted the burn ward at Prayagraj’s Swaroop Rani Medical College.

Officials, however, are bringing the injured to the medical college for treatment.

Medical College Principal Professor Dr Ajay Kumar Verma reached the trauma centre to inspect the treatment of the injured from the Kaushambi blast.

Four injured people had been brought to the trauma centre, while more casualties were expected.

The administration had, however, not confirmed any additional deaths at the time of the report. Officials estimated the number of injured at 10-12.

Around 20 workers were inside the factory when the blast occurred. Some residents of nearby houses suffered injuries. Firecrackers continued exploding after the main blast.

The devastation was severe. The explosion created an eight-foot hole in the third floor of a nearby house.

The single-storey factory occupied 800 square feet. Police identified its owner as Adil. A new settlement was developing beside the factory, with eight houses surrounding the premises.

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