11 killed in Kaushambi blast; main accused held after encounter

The accused, identified as factory owner Naushad, suffered a bullet injury to his leg during the exchange of fire and was admitted to the district hospital, they said.

Meanwhile, two police personnel were suspended and three others were sent to the police lines for alleged negligence and dereliction of duty in allowing the allegedly illegal factory to operate.

The blast took place on Monday at a firecracker manufacturing and storage facility in Manoori town that was allegedly being operated illegally.

Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapat said four teams had been formed to apprehend Naushad.

Acting on information that Naushad was near Terah Meel around 4 am and was planning to flee, a joint team of Charwa police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) surrounded him, the officer said.

According to police, Naushad opened fire at the team with an intention to kill the personnel after realising that he was surrounded. The police retaliated in self-defence, hitting him in the leg, Singh said.

Naushad was subsequently arrested, the officer said.

During preliminary questioning, he allegedly told police that he and his associates had been illegally manufacturing firecrackers and other explosive material and storing them at the facility.

Police said Naushad had obtained a licence to operate the firecracker factory several years ago. However, during an inspection on October 8, 2024, officials allegedly recovered around 1,200 kg of gunpowder and other explosive material from its godown.

A case was registered against him at Pipri police station under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to acts endangering the life or personal safety of others, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act. Naushad was arrested and sent to jail, while his licence was suspended, officials said.

Despite this, he allegedly continued to run the factory illegally, police said.

Taking serious note of the blast, SP Prajapat ordered action against police personnel for alleged negligence and dereliction of duty.

Pipri police station in-charge Vikas Singh, Chail outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Amit Dwivedi and former Chail outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Manish Pal were sent to the police lines. Head Constable Jitendra Kumar and Constable Krishna Kumar were suspended with immediate effect, officials said.

The explosion was powerful enough to damage several houses within about 100 metres of the factory. Five to six houses were affected, including three that completely collapsed, officials said.

Among those killed were railway employee Vikram Saroj, his wife Anju and their two sons, Ansh and Shivansh, who lived next to the factory. Their 13-year-old daughter Sanjana survived as she had gone out for some work when the blast occurred.

Rescuers faced the major challenge of locating people trapped beneath the debris.

The rescue operation began around noon and continued until 9 pm, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire brigade clearing rubble and searching for survivors.

Ten excavators, 11 fire tenders and 14 ambulances were deployed at the site, officials said.

Chail Circle Officer Shivank Singh said six people, including Naushad, his son Adil, wife Kahkashan Bano, brother Shakeel, sister-in-law Shabana and niece Saina, were named in an FIR.

The case was registered under Sections 105 and 288 of the BNS, relating to culpable homicide and negligent conduct involving an explosive substance, respectively, along with Sections 4, 5 and 9-B of the Explosives Act.

District in-charge minister Krishna Paswan visited the blast site late Monday evening along with BJP district president Dharmraj Maurya, Chail MLA Pooja Pal and other public representatives.

District Magistrate Amit Pal said the administration had ordered the demolition of the firecracker factory on Monday night. The structure was subsequently razed with an excavator around 9 pm.

"The strictest possible action will be taken in the matter," the district magistrate said.

He said action under the Gangsters Act would be initiated and steps would be taken to seize the properties of those accused. Preparations were also underway to invoke the National Security Act (NSA), he added.

(With inputs from PTI)