Punjab Shaken: Deadly Blast Rips Through Firecracker Factory in Muktsar Sahib – 4 Dead, 27 Injured

Sri Muktsar Sahib (The Uttam Hindu): A major accident has occurred in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab. An explosion took place in a firecracker factory located in the fields near the villages of Singhewala and Futuhiwala in the Lambi constituency. In this tragic incident, four people lost their lives and 27 laborers were seriously injured. The injured have been sent to AIIMS Bathinda. Due to the blast, two floors of the factory building collapsed instantly, turning into rubble like a house of cards.

The explosion happened around 12:50 AM in the unit of the factory where firecrackers were being manufactured. The firecracker production was being managed under a contractor named Raj Kumar, a resident of Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. Raj Kumar is reported to be absconding since the incident.

The loud sound of the explosion was heard several kilometers away. According to migrant workers employed at the factory, around 40 employees worked in two shifts, and some of them lived there with their families. Most of the workers were reportedly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A worker named Arun Saxena said he was sleeping outside under the open sky when the explosion occurred. Within moments, the entire building collapsed into debris and a large number of workers were severely injured.

Upon receiving information, SSP Dr. Akhil Chaudhary, SP (D) Manmeet Singh, Lambi DSP Jaspal Singh, and Killiwali Police Station in-charge Karamjit Kaur reached the spot.

Volunteers from Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa's Green S Force are engaged in relief work at the site, and the debris is being cleared using hydro machines. Jaspal Singh from Lambi stated that the factory belongs to a person named Tarsem Singh from Singhewala-Futuhiwala and is a licensed facility. He mentioned that initially, five deaths were reported and around 27 people were injured. Three bodies have been recovered from the rubble. Relief operations are ongoing at a war footing. Further action will be taken after investigation. SSP Dr. Akhil Chaudhary confirmed the death of four individuals. The injured have been taken to the hospital. A thorough investigation will be conducted considering the seriousness of the matter.