Deadly blast at UP firecracker factory kills 11, rescue ops underway

A massive explosion at a firecracker factory in Manori village, Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh, killed 11 people and injured five, officials said on Monday. The blast, which occurred in the afternoon, prompted the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire brigade, and Air Force units to the scene, while rescue teams worked to clear debris and search for survivors.

District Magistrate Amit Pal confirmed that the factory, located under the Pipri police station area, was the epicenter of the blast. Eleven victims, all residents of the surrounding area, died while being treated at SRN Hospital in Prayagraj. The deceased included children and adults, with ages ranging from four to forty years. Five others were reported seriously injured and are receiving treatment at the same hospital. Officials say more than 18 people may have been injured, though the exact number remains uncertain as rescue operations continue.

The explosion, which struck near the Manori power house, caused extensive damage to the factory and adjacent structures. Five to six houses collapsed in the impact zone, and a high‑voltage electricity pole and power lines were damaged, leading to power outages in the locality. Electricity department workers are repairing the infrastructure while the Air Force, stationed at Manori Air Force Station about two kilometres away, provides additional support.

Rail operations on the Delhi‑Howrah line, which passes near the site, were suspended for roughly an hour. The Ajmer‑Sealdah Express was diverted back to Manori railway station, and the Vande Bharat Express traveling from Delhi to Varanasi was halted at Saiyad Sarawan station, one stop before the blast zone.

Responders, led by Kaushambi Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapat and Prayagraj Range Inspector General Ajay Mishra, arrived with teams of the NDRF, SDRF, police, and fire brigade. More than a dozen fire tenders and about twenty ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and over fifty Air Force personnel assisted in the rescue operation. Bulldozers and excavators cleared rubble from collapsed houses, while debris from the collapsed structures was removed with ten bulldozers. Police remain concerned that more people may still be trapped under the debris, and the death toll could rise.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the victims in a post on X. He announced ex‑gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for each next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured person, and urged local officials to ensure proper medical care and support for affected families. The chief minister also offered prayers for the departed souls and for the recovery of the injured.

The incident has drawn widespread attention to safety regulations at firecracker manufacturing sites across the state. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the explosion and whether safety protocols were followed. The incident underscores the risks associated with the production of fireworks in densely populated areas.

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