Nine killed, many injured in brick kiln explosion in Bihar's East Champaran

At least nine people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion that occurred in a brick kiln at Narirgir village under the Ramgarwa police station area in East Champaran district on Friday evening, reports news agency ANI quoting Motihari district magistrate.
Several police teams and a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team were present at the spot and the rescue operation was under way.
The brick kiln owner, Mohammad Irshad, was also killed in the explosion, additional director general of police (headquarters) Jitendra Singh Gangwar told TOI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

"Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a brick kiln in Motihari. Condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers with the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," he tweeted.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar too expressed grief over the incident and asked the district administration to make all necessary arrangements for proper treatment of the injured persons.

With inputs from ANI