Firozabad. Several houses collapsed and dozens of people were buried under the rubble due to a massive explosion in an illegal firecracker warehouse. Meera Devi, wife of the watchman living in the warehouse, 20-year-old Aman, 18-year-old Gautam and three-year-old Ichchha died. A dozen people are injured. Half a dozen injured have been sent to the hospital.
The administration could not start relief work even an hour after the incident. Angry villagers pelted stones at the police. Relief work could start only after 11 pm. A dozen houses have been damaged due to the blast.
The house was made a warehouse
In Naushehra village located on the Kanpur highway in Shikohabad, Bhure Khan had rented Chandrapal Kushwaha’s house and made it a firecracker warehouse. A watchman and his wife Meera Devi lived there at night. Suddenly there was an explosion in the warehouse at 10 pm on Monday night. The echo of the explosion was heard in the area up to 15 km.
A dozen houses around the warehouse collapsed due to the blast and many houses developed cracks. Most of the people were sleeping in their homes at the time of the blast. Dozens of people are feared to be buried under the debris of the houses.
The local police arrived at 10:30 pm, but the rescue work could not start. The villagers pelted stones expressing their displeasure at the late arrival of the police. The police explained to the villagers with great difficulty.
After this, the work of removing the debris could be started by calling JCB. The villagers along with the police started removing people from the debris. The fire brigade vehicle arrived at 10:45 pm and started controlling the fire smoldering in the fireworks.
The relief operation was started with fire brigade vehicles and JCB, but ambulances could not be arranged to take the people removed from the debris to the hospital.
The injured were sent to the hospital in private vehicles. The ambulance arrived at 11:30 pm. The relief and rescue operation continued till late night. Half a dozen injured have been admitted to the 100-bed hospital in Shikohabad and the trauma center in Firozabad. SSP Saurabh Dixit said that the warehouse where the explosion took place is licensed. It will be investigated. The warehouse owner is absconding. Relief work is underway. Arrangements have been made for proper treatment of the injured.
Inspector’s feet were held… Sir, take out my children
Inspector Pradeep Kumar was the first to reach the spot. At that time, a crowd of villagers had gathered and he was standing helpless. On seeing the inspector, a villager caught hold of his feet. He said, somehow take out my children. During this, a youth also pelted stones. The inspector somehow pacified the villagers.
