Ayodhya blast: Three children among five killed in house collapse after explosion, probe on

According to the police, as per the initial probe, a cylinder blast appears to be the reason behind the explosion, though the exact reason is yet to be ascertained.

Soon after receiving information, police teams along with the bomb disposal squad and forensic experts rushed to the spot.

Rescue workers have been using excavators to clear the rubble, while nearby houses have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, said the police.

Inspector General of Ayodhya Range, Praveen Kumar, said that all the victims belonged to the same family. The house owner, Pappu Gupta, was running an aata chakki (flour mill) from the premises, said Kumar.

“Prima facie, a cylinder blast appears to be the cause of the explosion, though the exact reason will be confirmed only after we receive the forensic report,” said the inspector general.

According to the police, the household utensils and other belongings were found scattered across the blast site. The forensic team later collected samples from the site for further examination. The police teams have also been combing the surrounding areas of the house in search of additional evidence.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayodhya, Gaurav Grover said that around 7 pm on Thursday, the police received information about a blast at a house situated in a field on the outskirts of a village. The explosion led to the house collapse leaving a huge mound of debris, which was cleared to rescue the victims and rush them to hospital, said police. Doctors later declared all five persons dead, said the SSP.

During investigation, police found that Pappu Gupta had shifted there only a few months ago from his earlier residence inside the village. The identity of other victims is being ascertained, said the police. Efforts are on to contact the family members of the deceased to gather more details, the SSP added. A probe into the matter is underway, said the SSP.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and expressed deep condolences over the loss of lives, news agency PTI reported.

According to an official statement, the Chief Minister has directed senior officials to rush to the spot, ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, and personally oversee the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

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