Bihar: 14 killed, 10 injured in Bhagalpur house blast; ATS to probe case

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The police said the incident took place at around 11.30 pm on Thursday at the house of one Mohammed Azad who had rented it out to one Leelawati Devi in Kajiwalichak area. Leelawati and four other members of her family are among the 14 people dead in the explosion and the subsequent collapse of the house.

The injured are being treated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital. Three adjoining houses also developed cracks or partially caved in under the impact of the blast. Local police station in-charge Sudhanshu Kumar has been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Bihar DGP SK Sibghal told reporters: “Primary investigation has suggested that an unlicensed firecracker manufacturing unit was being run from the rented house. The ATS will probe the matter. FSL samples are being collected”. Gun powder and iron nails, used in making crude bombs and firecrackers, have been seized from the spot, he said.

Speaking on the incident, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said: “I have taken full stock of the situation from the state chief secretary and the DGP. The matter is being probed and we are monitoring the relief and rescue operations, and treatment is being given to the injured”.

In a tweet in Hindi, PM Modi said: “The news of loss of human lives in Bihar’s Bhagalpur blast is painful. I wish the inured fast recovery. I have also spoken to Nitish Kunar regarding the aspects related to the incident. The administration has been carrying out relief and rescue operations and the affected are being helped in all possible ways”.

बिहार के भागलपुर में धमाके से हुई जनहानि की खबर पीड़ा देने वाली है। मैं घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। घटना से जु़ड़े हालातों पर मुख्यमंत्री @NitishKumar जी से भी बात हुई। प्रशासन राहत और बचाव कार्यों में लगा हुआ है, और पीड़ितों को हर संभव सहायता दी जा रही है।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2022

Even as the Bhagalpur police is looking at the case as a blast in an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit, the incident has now put the onus on the ATS to investigate if crude bombs were being supplied from the illegal unit. Central intelligence agencies had earlier alerted import of crude bombs to places like West Bengal and such illegal manufacturing units were found in Babarganj, Habibpur, Barari and Aasanandpur areas of the town.

No arrest has been made in the matter so far. Bhagalpur SSP Baburam said: “We have been busy with the relief and rescue operations and would look into the matter thoroughly soon. We did find violation of adherence to police manual regarding the local police station in-charge not having his job properly and therefore suspended him”.