Kaushambi cracker factory blast: Owner arrested after police encounter in Prayagraj

The owner of a firecracker factory in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested Tuesday following a police encounter near Prayagraj after an explosion at his facility killed 11 people, including eight children, officials confirmed.

Naushad, the factory owner, was intercepted by a police team around 4 a.m. in the Saiyad Sarawan area of Kaushambi. Police said Naushad opened fire when officers attempted to stop him. Officers returned fire, and he was struck in the leg. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, where authorities recovered an illegal pistol and cartridges from his possession.

The blast occurred Monday afternoon in the Manauri market area of Kaushambi, along the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border. The explosion was powerful enough that its sound was heard several kilometers away. A thick plume of smoke blanketed the area as firecrackers stored inside continued to detonate for an extended period after the initial blast.

Eleven people died in the incident, including eight children. Several others were injured, with five currently receiving hospital treatment.

An FIR was registered against six family members, alleging their involvement in large-scale illegal manufacturing and storage of firecrackers within residential premises without proper safety measures. The case has been filed under Sections 105 and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 4, 5, and 9B of the Explosives Act, 1884.

The cracker factory explosion has drawn renewed attention to firecracker safety regulations and illegal manufacturing in the region. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blast and the full scope of the operation.

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