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At least six people were killed and over a dozen suffered injuries in powerful blasts at a cracker manufacturing unit, which was operating out of a residence at Sisendi village, about 30 km from Lucknow, on Saturday morning.
Three blasts took place around 8 am at the factory owned by one Khalil Ahmad. A group of labourers were reportedly at work at the time. The cause of the blasts is yet to be established. Police said a large amount of explosives was stored in the house as Diwali is approaching.
Villagers said there were at least three blasts at the cracker unit. Three rooms of the house were completely damaged and body parts of those killed were found scattered even outside the house.
Among those killed was Khalil’s 16-year-old niece Naghma Bano who had stepped out of the house with her bicycle to go to school.
The other deceased are Khalil’s mother Zahira (70), brother Saleem (36), sister-in-law Momin Bano (40), and two labourers Nanakki (45) and Rakesha (32).
Fifteen persons, including Khalil, his family members and six labourers are undergoing treatment at the King George Medical University’s trauma centre. Six of them are reportedly critical.
Khalil has been running the firecracker unit for over two decades. While his manufacturing unit is situated on the other side of the road, most firecrackers were manufactured at his house, villagers said.
Mohanlalganj Circle Officer Rajesh Kumar Yadav, however, said Khalil had a valid permit for the firecracker unit till 2015.
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