Five people were killed and two others remained missing after an explosion at a house allegedly used for firecracker manufacturing in Bihar’s Siwan district on Friday. The blast was so powerful that debris from an adjoining section of the building fell onto the road, police said.
Siwan District Magistrate Vijay Prakash Meena said the explosion occurred at around 5.30 pm. The five deceased have been identified, while efforts are underway to trace the two missing people.
Officials have ordered an investigation to determine whether the firecracker manufacturing unit was operating with a valid licence. Authorities suspect that the licence may have been invalid or not renewed according to the prescribed rules.
FIR Registered, SIT Formed
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Maharajganj to investigate the incident.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Jamho Bazar police station, Dhiraj Kumar, and village chowkidar Chandrika Manjhi have been suspended over alleged negligence. A forensic team is examining the site to establish the exact cause of the explosion.
According to the Superintendent of Police, the house owner had reportedly been engaged in firecracker manufacturing for around 20 years and possessed a licence. However, a recent inspection of the licence, assigned to the local SHO, was found to be inadequate.
The investigation will examine the circumstances leading to the blast, the unit’s licensing status and possible lapses in safety procedures.
