Kaushambi Firecracker Factory Blast: 11 Killed, 5 Injured, Main Accused Arrested

Eleven people, including eight children, were killed and five others injured after a massive explosion ripped through a firecracker factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district on Monday, destroying the unit and several adjoining houses.

The blast occurred at a factory in Manauri village, where the intensity of the explosion caused five to six nearby houses to collapse. Most of the victims lived in the vicinity of the factory. Rescue teams recovered bodies from the debris, while authorities continued searching for anyone who may still be trapped.

Forensic teams inspected the blast site on Tuesday as investigators sought to determine the exact cause of the explosion and establish how the factory continued operations despite regulatory action. Samples and other evidence from the debris were examined as part of the investigation.

Officials said the factory had received an explosives licence in 2019, initially valid until 2026. However, the licence was cancelled in 2024. Authorities are now investigating how the unit remained operational after its cancellation and whether officials responsible for enforcement failed to act.

Police registered a case against six people under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Explosives Act, with provisions of the Gangsters Act also being invoked. The main accused, identified as factory owner Naushad, was arrested after an encounter with police early Tuesday while allegedly attempting to flee. Police said he sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was taken to hospital.

The blast also briefly disrupted operations on the Delhi-Howrah railway line. The Ajmer-Sealdah Express was sent back to Manori, while the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat was halted at Saiyad Sarawan.

More than a dozen fire tenders, ambulances, police personnel, NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed during the rescue operation.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for each injured person. The factory is being demolished as the investigation continues, with authorities promising stringent action against those found responsible.