LUCKNOW: At least 11 people, including eight children, were killed after a powerful explosion tore through a firecracker factory in northern India, police said on Monday.
The blast occurred in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh, causing several nearby houses to collapse, according to local media reports. Most of the victims were reportedly residents of those houses.
Police said the children killed in the incident were aged between four and 13, highlighting the severity of the tragedy.
Police officer Satnarayan Prajapat confirmed that 11 people had died and said several others were injured. Rescue and emergency teams were involved in clearing the debris and assisting those affected.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately established. Authorities were expected to investigate whether violations of safety regulations or improper storage and handling of explosive materials contributed to the incident.
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Firecracker-related accidents are a recurring problem in India, where manufacturing and storage facilities can operate in densely populated areas.
Safety experts have repeatedly raised concerns over compliance with industrial safety standards and enforcement of regulations. The latest incident adds to a series of fatal accidents involving fireworks facilities in the country.
In March, a fire at a fireworks factory in western India killed 17 people. The following month, another eight people were killed when a fire broke out at a firecracker storage facility in southern India.
The repeated incidents have renewed concerns over workplace safety and the regulation of India’s large fireworks industry, particularly where factories and storage sites are located close to residential communities.
