3 women killed in illicit cracker factory blast

A massive explosion in a cracker factory at Kokhraj area in Uttar Prades's Kaushambi killed three women and injured many including two minor girls. Police recovered the dead bodies and took the injured to the hospital for treatment.

Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh):Three women were killed and several others injured in a blast in a cracker factory at Kokhraj area of Kaushambi on Monday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramveer Singh said that the victims were manufacturing firecrackers at Haider Ali's house, near the Bharwari police outpost, while the massive explosion took place.

Geeta Devi one of the victims died on the spot and Pushpa and Radhika, who had sustained critical burn injuries in the explosion, succumbed to burn injuries during treatment.

The residents doused the flames that engulfed the house after the explosion and fire tenders reached to the spot later.

Police reached the site to rescue others who got injured and sent them for treatment. Those who were severe injuries are identified as Albina, Nazim, Nagma, Rashida and two minor children.

One of the injured informed, "Rashida was cooking food in the house on Friday morning. As there was a leakage in the gas cylinder that caused the explosion and the fire spread around where the crackers were being made."

The explosion was so strong that the walls of the surrounding houses also cracked and people ran out of the house.

The cracker factory was being run without a license, police said.

According to DSP, the entire case is being investigated and action would be taken if any lapses will be found.

(IANS report)