KAUSHAMBI (UP), September 1, 2026 – A devastating explosion at an illegally operated firecracker manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district on Monday afternoon claimed the lives of 11 people, including eight children, and left five others seriously injured. The powerful blast completely destroyed the factory building and caused the collapse of five to six adjacent residential houses.
The incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. in the Manauri Bazaar area on the Kaushambi-Prayagraj border. The factory was reportedly operating from a house situated in the middle of agricultural fields.
According to Kaushambi District Magistrate Amit Pal, the factory was granted an explosives license in 2019, which was originally valid until 2026. However, the license had been officially canceled in 2024. “A detailed inquiry is underway to ascertain how the factory continued to operate after cancellation of its licence and to fix responsibility at every level,” the DM stated, adding that strict action will be taken against the guilty.
1.Casualties and Rescue Operations:
The intensity of the explosion left multiple people trapped under the debris. A massive, coordinated rescue operation was launched involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, the fire brigade, and personnel from the nearby Manori Air Force Station, which is located just two kilometers away.
The 11 deceased, all of whom resided in the vicinity of the factory, have been identified as Priyanjali (5), Praveen Singh (13), Jahanvi (12), Aditya (12), Aditya (8), Ravi (8), Ansh (6), Nanha (4), Anju (32), Vikram Saroj (35), and Gyan Singh (40). The five seriously injured individuals are currently undergoing treatment at SRN Hospital in Prayagraj.
2.Police Action and Arrests:
Following the explosion, an FIR was registered at the Pipri police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosives Act against six individuals, including the factory owner Naushad. Superintendent of Police Satnarayan Prajapat indicated that charges under the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act would also be pursued. Naushad, the main accused, was subsequently arrested following a police encounter. Authorities have also commenced the demolition of the illegal portions of the building and initiated proceedings to seize the assets of the accused.
3.Government Response:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed profound grief over the tragedy. He announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each for the injured. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the injured at SRN Hospital to ensure they were receiving proper medical care.
The blast was so severe that it also disrupted train operations on the nearby Delhi-Howrah railway line for about an hour and caused damage to local electrical infrastructure. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the ignition and the scale of the illegal explosive materials stored on the premises.
Published by True Roots Media Network