Kaushambi firecracker blast: ₹25,000 reward for 3 absconding accused, 11 dead
Synopsis
Eleven people are dead after an illegal firecracker factory — operating despite a permit suspension since April 2024 — exploded in Kaushambi. With the main accused arrested in an early-morning encounter and seven police personnel suspended for negligence, the blast has exposed a systemic failure of enforcement that authorities can no longer ignore.
Key Takeaways
11 people killed and 5 seriously injured in a firecracker factory explosion in Chilla Shahbazi village, Kaushambi on Monday .
UP Police announced a reward of ₹25,000 each for information on three absconding accused: Shakeel , Kahaksha Bano , and Adil .
Main accused Naushad arrested following an encounter at around 4 am on Tuesday near the Charwa police station area.
Seven police personnel , including the then Inspector-in-Charge of Pipri Police Station, suspended for alleged gross negligence.
The factory's permit had been suspended on 4 April 2024 after irregularities were found, yet operations allegedly continued illegally.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday, 1 September announced a reward of ₹25,000 each for information leading to the arrest of three absconding suspects — Shakeel, Kahaksha Bano, and Adil — wanted in connection with the deadly firecracker factory explosion in Kaushambi that killed 11 people and left five others with serious injuries. The blast tore through an illegal manufacturing and storage facility in Chilla Shahbazi village under the Pipri police station area at around 11:30 am on Monday.
Main Accused Arrested After Encounter
The alleged main accused, Naushad, was apprehended following an encounter on the Terah Mile–Syed Sarawan road in the Charwa police station area at around 4 am on Tuesday. According to police, an informant tipped off authorities that Naushad was attempting to flee the city after the incident. Acting on the lead, a police team launched a search operation and laid a siege in the area to prevent his escape.
Circle Officer Shivank Singh said four specialised teams had been constituted on the instructions of the Superintendent of Police to apprehend the main accused. The teams conducted continuous raids at suspected hideouts and tracked leads on his whereabouts until his arrest.
Reward Announced for Three Remaining Fugitives
Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapat formally announced the ₹25,000-per-head reward for credible information on the three absconding accused — Shakeel, Kahaksha Bano, and Adil — as part of the ongoing crackdown linked to the Mohammadpur Manauri Firecracker Factory explosion.
Seven Police Personnel Suspended for Negligence
In a significant accountability measure, seven police personnel — including the then Inspector-in-Charge of Pipri Police Station — have been suspended for alleged gross negligence that, according to officials, contributed to the tragedy. The suspensions were announced by authorities overseeing the investigation.
Factory Had Been Operating Illegally Since April 2024
According to a press note issued by the Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, the permit for the firecracker manufacturing and storage facility had been suspended on 4 April 2024 after irregularities were detected during official proceedings. Despite the suspension, the accused allegedly continued manufacturing and storing firecrackers at the premises, putting the lives of workers and nearby residents at grave risk. This comes amid a broader pattern of illegal firecracker units operating across Uttar Pradesh, where enforcement gaps have repeatedly preceded fatal accidents.
Investigations are ongoing, and police have indicated that further arrests are expected as the hunt for the three remaining accused continues.
Point of View
Yet the unit allegedly kept running for months until it killed 11 people. Suspending seven police personnel is a necessary step, but it raises an uncomfortable question: who was aware of the continued illegal operations and looked the other way? Uttar Pradesh has seen repeated fatal firecracker accidents, and each time the post-blast accountability exercise stops at the local constabulary. Until senior administrative officers face scrutiny for permit enforcement lapses, the cycle is unlikely to break.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kaushambi firecracker factory blast?
An explosion ripped through an illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage facility in Chilla Shahbazi village, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, at around 11:30 am on Monday. Eleven people were killed and five others sustained serious injuries in the blast.
Who is the main accused in the Kaushambi blast?
The main accused is identified as Naushad, who was arrested after a police encounter on the Terah Mile–Syed Sarawan road in the Charwa police station area at around 4 am on Tuesday. Three other accused — Shakeel, Kahaksha Bano, and Adil — remain at large.
Why is UP Police offering a ₹25,000 reward?
Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapat announced a reward of ₹25,000 each for credible information leading to the arrest of three absconding accused — Shakeel, Kahaksha Bano, and Adil — who are wanted in connection with the explosion.
Was the firecracker factory operating legally?
No. According to the Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, the factory's permit had been suspended on 4 April 2024 after irregularities were found. The accused allegedly continued manufacturing and storing firecrackers illegally despite the suspension.
What action has been taken against the police?
Seven police personnel, including the then Inspector-in-Charge of Pipri Police Station, have been suspended for alleged gross negligence that is believed to have contributed to the tragedy.
