Blast rips through cracker unit in Barabanki, 3 killed

FAIZABAD/LUCKNOW: Three persons were killed and over 12 injured after an explosion ripped through cracker godown inside- a house in Barabanki, triggering an inferno that wrecked the building on Tuesday evening. At least six people are feared trapped under the debris even as relief operations continued through the night on a war footing. Blast ripples were so high that at least three houses in the vicinity were reduced to rubble.
Explosives stashed in the basement for manufacturing crackers accidentally went off sparking off the blast at Dharupur village in Ramsanehi Ghat police station area of Barabanki. SP Barabanki Satish Kumar said the explosion occurred around 4.30pm in the house, owned by Hasib and Harun. Two other houses owned by Kadir and Ramzan of the same village collapsed like a pack of cards. "We are questioning owners of the house," a police officer said.
The dead were identified as Suraj and Ubair. Another body could not be identified as it was blown to pieces.
‘ Houses collapsed and fire broke out’
Three others who are critical include Mithun, 16, Radha, 35, Mehar Jahan, 18 and Ayesha. Villagers told police they were jolted by a deafening sound as if the village was bombed from the skies. “Houses collapsed immediately and a fire broke out. The billowing smoke was visible from 5km. We informed police and fire brigade. Three fire tenders were pressed into service. We rushed the injured to the hospital. Later, land moving machines began cleaning debris,” said a villager.
Faizabad divisional commissioner Manoj Mishra said house owner, Hasib, has a licence for explosives to produce fire crackers, but the basement was not the right place to store. A license specifically mentions that explosives should be stored away from a populated area or near to a river.