One killed, 3 others injured after fire breaks out at fireworks unit

PRAYAGRAJ, April 16 (HS): One person was killed and three others suffered critical burn injuries after a fire broke out at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Dhanua village under Naini police station on Friday. The fireworks unit is owned by Lakshman Prasad, resident of Meerapur under Attarsuiya police station.

According to the police, the man along with three other persons were injured at 2.00 noon after the fire broke out due to a short-circuit at the factory. He and other injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Three other injured persons are said to be in a critical condition. The deceased has been identified as Sudhir (50), while Raja (14), Anurag (15) and Vishal (14) are among the injured currently battling for life. According to eye witnesses, a blast occurred at around 2.00 noon and the workers rushed outside the factory. Police arrived at the spot with fire brigade and it took around an hour of hectic efforts to douse the flames.

“Till then the raging inferno had gutted the entire fire cracker unit. Luckily, some of the labourers were eating their lunch outside  the factory at the time, when the incident occurred,” said inspector Naini while commenting on the incident. Adding that prima facie, fire due to short-circuit seems to be the proximate cause, which led to the incident.