Couple killed, 5 injured in blast in Lucknow house being used to make firecrackers

The deceased were identified as Alam, 50, and his wife Munni, 40. The injured, including the couple’s 22-year-old son Irshad, Nadeem (24), Jaid (35), Iram (32) and Hoorj Zaha (25), were pulled out of the debris and rushed to hospital. Irshad and Nadeem are critical, doctors said.

Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G, who along with senior police officials, visited the explosion site, said, “The condition of two of the injured remains critical. The remaining three injured are stable”.

“At least four other houses beside the one in which the blast occurred have been damaged. Our priority is to ensure that the injured get adequate medical care. Once that is done, our teams will look into the reasons behind the incident and those involved in it, the DM added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Shashank Singh said teams of fire brigade, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and bomb disposal squad joined the police in the rescue operation.

“It is being probed whether the factory was illegal. We are also examining the inflammable and explosive materials or substances that were stored inside,” the DCP told reporters.

Even as sources said chemicals used in making firecrackers were recovered from the site, they declined to share more details, saying any confirmation will be made only after laboratory tests on the collected samples are done.

The preliminary inquiry indicated the blast was likely triggered by gunpowder stored inside the house, another official said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and instructed officials to expedite relief and rescue efforts.

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