Several people are feared dead after a massive explosion ripped through a house where firecrackers were stored in Bihar’s Siwan district on Friday. Rescue operations are underway, while the exact number of casualties is yet to be officially confirmed.
According to preliminary information, firecrackers stored inside the house-cum-firecracker unit of local resident Mohammad Amiruddin Mian caught fire, triggering a series of explosions. Mian is said to be a firecracker trader.
Several people were reportedly present inside the house when the fire broke out. The flames spread to other firecrackers stored on the premises, leading to repeated explosions in the thickly populated area.
The intensity of the blasts was such that the front portion of the house collapsed, with debris spilling onto the road. The explosions continued intermittently for nearly two hours, triggering panic and chaos in the surrounding area.
According to locals, several people may have died in the incident. Reports also suggest that some bodies may have been severely mutilated in the explosions, making identification difficult. However, the number of fatalities and the identities of the victims have not been officially confirmed.
Further details regarding the circumstances that led to the fire, the casualties and the administration’s response are awaited.
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(With inputs fron Chandan Kumar in Siwan)