A day after a devastating explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit on the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border claimed 11 lives, police arrested the alleged owner of the facility following an encounter early Tuesday morning.
The accused, identified as Naushad, was intercepted by a police team at around 4 a.m. in the Saiyad Sarawan area of Kaushambi. According to police officials, the accused allegedly opened fire when officers attempted to stop him. The police then returned fire, during which Naushad sustained a gunshot injury to his leg.
He was subsequently taken into custody and shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Police said an illegal firearm and cartridges were recovered from his possession.
Blast killed 11 people, including eight children
The arrest comes less than 24 hours after a powerful explosion tore through a firecracker manufacturing unit in the Manauri area of Kaushambi on Monday afternoon.
The blast caused extensive destruction at the factory and damaged several nearby residential structures. The explosion was reportedly powerful enough to be heard several kilometres away, while thick smoke spread across the surrounding area.
Eleven people died in the incident, including eight children. Several others were injured, with five victims continuing to receive medical treatment.
The intensity of the explosion triggered panic among residents in the surrounding locality. Firecrackers and explosive material stored at the facility reportedly continued detonating for some time after the initial blast, complicating the rescue operation.
Emergency personnel, including police officers, firefighters and disaster-response teams, were deployed to the site. Rescue workers searched through the debris for survivors while damaged structures were examined for any additional casualties.
Police investigation focuses on alleged illegal manufacturing
The case has raised serious questions about the manner in which firecrackers and explosive material were being manufactured and stored at the premises.
According to the police case, six members of a family have been named in the FIR. Investigators have alleged that firecrackers were being manufactured and stored on a large scale without adequate safety arrangements.
The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosives Act. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast, including the nature and quantity of explosive material present at the facility and whether safety regulations were violated.
The factory’s licensing status is also under scrutiny. Officials said the licence associated with the unit had been cancelled in 2024, raising questions about how manufacturing and storage activities allegedly continued despite the cancellation.
Four police teams formed to track accused
Following the explosion, police launched a search operation to locate those named in the case. Four teams were formed to track the main accused and other suspects.
The search intensified overnight, eventually leading police to the area where Naushad was intercepted in the early hours of Tuesday.
Police officials said that when the accused allegedly opened fire, officers retaliated in self-defence. Naushad was injured in the exchange and subsequently arrested.
The recovery of an illegal pistol and cartridges from his possession has also become part of the investigation. Police are now questioning him to establish his alleged role in the operation of the facility and to determine whether other people were involved in the manufacturing and storage of firecrackers.
Firecracker storage facility demolished
Authorities also took action against another property allegedly linked to the accused.
Following the blast, an alleged firecracker storage facility belonging to Naushad was demolished using heavy machinery. The action was carried out as part of the administration’s response to the incident and amid concerns over the continued presence of explosive material in the area.
Officials are expected to examine other properties and locations connected to the accused to determine whether additional stocks of firecrackers or explosive substances were being stored there.
Damage extended beyond factory premises
The explosion caused destruction beyond the factory itself. Nearby houses were damaged by the force of the blast, leaving residents shaken and raising concerns about the risks posed by explosive-material facilities operating close to residential areas.
The incident has once again brought attention to the importance of licensing, storage standards, fire-safety arrangements and regulatory inspections at facilities involved in firecracker manufacturing.
Investigators will also examine whether the factory was operating in accordance with applicable regulations and whether authorities had received any previous complaints or information regarding activities at the premises.
Investigation continues
With the main accused now in custody, investigators are expected to focus on establishing the exact circumstances that led to the explosion and identifying everyone who may have been responsible for the alleged manufacturing and storage of firecrackers.
Police are also continuing their search for other individuals named in the case.
The tragedy has left 11 people dead, including eight children, while several others remain injured. As the investigation progresses, authorities will have to determine whether regulatory violations, unsafe storage practices or other factors contributed to the deadly explosion.
The case has therefore become not only a criminal investigation but also a wider examination of safety enforcement surrounding firecracker manufacturing and storage in densely populated areas.