At least 14 people were killed and five suffered serious injuries in a massive explosion that took place inside a house where the residents were allegedly involved in illegal firecracker manufacturing business.
According to reports, 10-15 people are still feared trapped under the debris of the building that was turned into rubble due to the impact of the explosion.
The five injured are undergoing treatment at JLN Hospital, Mayaganj. Earlier, the hospital had declared four other injured as dead on arrival.
The incident took place in a building adjacent to an orphanage in the Kajbalichak area of Bhagalpur district, less than 100 metres from the local police station. The explosion also impacted two-three adjoining houses which were also damaged due to the blast.
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said the blast took place inside the house of Mahendra Mandal in Kajbalichak locality of the town in the early hours.
The house of Mandal besides two adjoining buildings were reduced to rubble by the impact of the explosion, the sound of which was heard far and wide, said the DM.
He said earth moving equipment was brought in to clear the debris.
Teams of bomb disposal squad and forensic experts were collecting samples to ascertain the type of explosive material that caused the blast, the official said.
The 10 bodies recovered from the blast site so far were disfigured beyond identification and the administration was yet to confirm the identities of the victims.
Mandal has been previously involved in illegal manufacture of firecrackers, and a similar explosion at his house in 2008 had killed three people, including his wife, the DM said.
Expressing anguish at the loss of lives in the Bhagalpur blast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the administration is engaged in relief and rescue work, and all possible assistance is being provided to the injured.
In a tweet, Modi said he had spoken to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding the incident, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The local police and rescue officials reached the spot after the incident and succeeded in extricating nine persons in injured debris caused due to the explosion. The injured victims are being provided due medical attention to save them, officials said, adding, the police are also investigating the incident to ascertain the exact cause of the blast.