Two killed in blast in Unnao fireworks unit

KANPUR: Two persons, including a woman, were killed while three others suffered serious injuries in a powerful explosion at a fireworks unit in Unnao district on Monday.
The tragedy took place at Gaurav Fireworks factory situated at Lucknow-Kanpur highway near Naveen Mandi Parishad railway crossing, a small residential area known for fireworks units.The powerful blast led to panic in the area. The blast also partially damaged several buildings nearby. It is estimated that a huge stock of explosives were kept inside the unit.
According to locals, there was a huge explosion at around 8.30 am. At that time, one Shanti Devi (60), her three daughters, Raj Kumari (35), Phool Kumari (27), Shri Devi alias Shiv Devi (22), of Jurakhan Kheda and one identified man were present in the unit. While the man died on the spot, others were admitted to a district hospital in critical condition but were later shifted to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, Kanpur as their condition deteriorated. Raj Kumari succumbed to her wounds during the treatment, informed superintendent of police Ratan Kumar Srivastava.
Locals of the area were the first to reach the accident site. The residents informed police control room following which district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand, SP Ratan Kumar Srivastava and fire department personnel along with fire tenders rushed to the spot. P 4
A case has been registered by Moti Lal with the Kotwali police station in this connection. District magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand said that a thorough probe would be conducted in this regard. "The accident site has been cordoned off and we have sought assistance from the forensic team to ascertain the exact cause which led to the powerful blast and also about the nature of explosives. Both the bodies have been sent for postmortem examination," the SP added.
Officials further claimed that the death toll was likely to increase as the injured were in an extremely critical condition. "The fireworks unit has been running for the past few months, and one Akhtar Ali was operating it on the license issued to a proprietor Anand Mohan Dwivedi. Investigations are underway to corroborate the facts for the same," said an official. Sources further informed that the unit was working overtime to deliver fireworks to the nearby areas, as the marriage season is underway.