Tragic Firecracker Factory Explosion Claims Lives in Deoband, Saharanpur
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Synopsis
A severe explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Saharanpur's Deoband resulted in several fatalities and numerous injuries. With reports of nine workers inside at the time, the blast scattered body parts over great distances, prompting intense rescue operations and public outrage.
Key Takeaways
- Explosion occurred in an illegal factory.
- Nine workers were present during the blast.
- Body parts scattered up to 200 metres away.
- Local residents expressed grief and anger.
- Investigation is ongoing into the illegal operations.
Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), April 26 (NationPress) A catastrophic blast tore through an unauthorized firecracker manufacturing facility in the Deoband region of Saharanpur early Saturday morning, resulting in multiple fatalities and trapping many individuals beneath the wreckage. As per local reports, there were nine employees present inside the factory at the time of the explosion. The force of the blast was so powerful that body fragments were scattered as far as 200 metres from the explosion site.
Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes, with half of a person’s body found at a significant distance and a severed hand located 150 metres away.
Rescue efforts are currently in progress as police have secured the area. The factory, which was functioning illegally on a one-bigha plot adjacent to National Highway-59, was utterly destroyed in the explosion.
Local residents, in disbelief over the tragedy, flocked to the scene, expressing their grief and outrage.
Family members of the deceased arrived at the site, many of whom were overwhelmed with sorrow. The incident ignited widespread anger among the villagers, leading to a blockade on the highway and contentious exchanges with police.
Additional police units from surrounding areas were dispatched to control the situation and manage the crowd.
Initial investigations indicate that the factory was producing prohibited firecrackers.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing successive explosions, with the sound echoing up to two kilometers away, shaking nearby communities.
The sheer force of the explosion left the workers with no opportunity for escape, as the structure collapsed in mere seconds.
This tragic occurrence has once again brought to light the unregulated operation of illegal firecracker factories in the area. This is not the first instance of such a calamity in Saharanpur.
On May 2, 2022, a similar explosion took place in an illegal firecracker unit near Saorana village in Sarsawa, claiming three lives and leaving another seriously injured. In that incident, too, the victims were dismembered, and their families faced challenges in identifying their remains.
Despite numerous tragedies, illegal firecracker production persists without any interruption in the district. The local administration is once again facing scrutiny for its inaction regarding these operations before a tragedy occurs. As rescue teams continue to search through the debris, the precise death toll remains unclear, although media outlets report it to be three.
Police officials have confirmed that an investigation is underway, and measures will be taken against those responsible for the illicit operation.
