Blast at firing range claims teenager’s life in Gaya

Gaya: A 15-year-old boy died and another sustained serious injuries after an accidental blast at the Bighi firing range near Deori Dumri village under Barachatti police station on Friday. The injured boy has been referred to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital for treatment.According to police, a three-day firing range allotment from Thursday to Saturday had been given to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for practice. However, the CRPF team from Rajgir completed the exercise in a single day on Thursday and returned after obtaining a no-objection certificate.As per standard procedure, residents of nearby villages were informed not to enter the restricted area. Despite this, locals often venture into the firing range to collect metal waste from exploded bombs and grenades, a practice that has earlier led to fatal accidents.On Friday, boys from Deori Dumri village under Bumer panchayat in the Barachatti police station area entered the restricted zone to collect copper or brass from debris when the blast occurred.Barachatti station house officer Amrendra Kishore said, “Investigation is being conducted in the case of one death in the blast and injury to another boy.”