Two killed, 3 injured in firecracker explosion in Gonda

Lucknow: Two people were killed while three others sustained burn injuries in a firecracker explosion in Gonda on Monday.
A preliminary probe has revealed that a group of people were illegally making firecrackers in a house in Belasar village, leading to the explosion around noon, said Gonda SP Vineet Jaiswal, who along with Tarabganj SDM Vishal Kumar, reached the scene for relief operation.
The deceased have been identified as Akash Kanaujiya (15) and Ishtiaq (30).
The injured, Ayub (20), Chhotu (16), and Krishna Kumar (17), are currently in serious condition.
Tarabganj police received information about a firecracker explosion that occurred around 1 pm in a closed house in Belasar village.
"It was indicated that a group of people was illegally making firecrackers at an abandoned and dilapidated house when the explosion took place. The injured were promptly sent to the Community Health Centre (CHC), from where they were referred to the district hospital, where two died," said Jaiswal.
"We have also called in teams of FSL and bomb detection squads to assist at the scene, and evidence collection is currently underway," said the SP.
"We have learnt that the premises belonged to one Farooq of the village," he said.
Ayub's mother, Sabiya, stated that they did not have firecrackers at home nor did they manufacture them. She mentioned that Ayub had gone to an old, dilapidated building nearby to light firecrackers when the explosion occurred, injuring him and four others. Hearing the blast, Sabiya rushed to the scene to find the five injured.
Local MLA Prem Narayan Pandey also visited the spot.