Lucknow: Two people were killed and five others injured when a firecracker factory operating illegally inside a house exploded in the Behta area of Gudamba, Lucknow, on Sunday afternoon. The powerful blast, which occurred around 12 noon, caused a portion of the roof to collapse, trapping several individuals under the debris. Rescue teams managed to pull out five trapped persons and rush them to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police said the explosion was so intense that it also damaged multiple adjoining houses.

District Magistrate Vishak G, who inspected the site along with senior police officers, confirmed that two of the injured are in critical condition while three others are stable. The impact of the blast left at least four surrounding houses partially damaged, sparking panic in the locality. “Our first priority is to ensure that the injured receive proper medical care. Once that is secured, our teams will investigate the reasons behind the incident and identify those responsible,” the DM said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to provide immediate medical care to the injured and expedite relief measures at the site. The accident has once again raised concerns about the dangers of firecracker units operating from residential areas, where safety norms are often ignored, putting lives and property at risk.