Blasts in 2 firecracker units claim 6 lives

MEERUT: A huge explosion at a firecracker factory near Deoband in UP's Saharanpur district on Saturday left three workers dead and at least six critically injured. The Uttar Pradesh police said they have arrested three people - Mohd Nafees, 50, and his two sons Nadeem and Kasif (in their early 20s) - for "making firecrackers beyond the permissible limits".

Saharanpur SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan said, "The incident took place around 6am. The factory owner had a licence, but was misusing it by making a large quantity of firecrackers. The deceased were identified as Rahul Kumar (22), Vishal Kumar (23) and Vikas Singh (22). They were present in the unit when the accident was triggered. Rescue teams reached the site and were joined by forensic experts soon after to collect evidence. The cause of fire is under investigation," Saharanpur SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan said.

An FIR was registered against the three accused under BNS sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances), 105 (culpable homicide), 238 (disappearance of evidence of an offence...) and sections of the Explosives Act at Deoband police station.

The sound of firecrackers exploding one after another could be heard far away, locals said, adding the factory had stashed "a lot of inflammable materials" which caused the fire to spread rapidly.