6 killed in cracker unit blast

Six persons, including two minors, were killed and three others were critically injured in an explosion in a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kaanth area of Shahjahanpur district today.

Shahjahanpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shiv Narain Bhardwaj said that according to eyewitnesses, crackers caught fire as unit owner Intezar Ali (57) was smoking while packing the crackers.

Since there was a huge stock of crackers and explosive materials at the manufacturing unit, the fire led to a powerful explosion, blowing up the walls and ceiling of the unit. A footwear and a tailoring shop were also blown up in the explosion.

The ASP said that Ali, tailor Ibne Ali (55), his employee Zahur Ahmed (32), a customer Geeta Devi (35) and her daughters Aruna (10) and Anjali (8) were killed in the incident.

The owner of footwear shop Ateeq (35) and two customers Tauheed (22) and Basant Yadav (28) suffered critical injuries, Bhardwaj added.

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