Nalanda: 5 dead, 25 injured in blast at illegal firecracker factory

Nalanda, Bihar: At least five people were dead and 25 injured in a blast at an illegal firecracker factory in Nalanda district of Bihar on Friday. Five houses near the factory were severely damaged due to the blasts.

The injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Seventeen people are in a critical condition.

#Visuals from Nalanda's Jalalpur, where a blast took place in an illegal firecracker factory. One dead, 25 injured in the blast. Investigation is underway. pic.twitter.com/eYP4hrrUHm — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018

The incident took place on Friday morning, around 5 am.

A team of police and fire tenders arrived on the spot immediately. It took nearly 2 hours to bring the fire, due to the blast, under control.

The firecracker factory is based in Jalalpur area of the district. The exact cause of the blast has not been ascertained till now.

Shock-waves from the blast could be felt within the 1 sq km radius from the spot. 

Nalanda DM and SP visited the injured in the incident in the hospital. "An investigation has been launched into the incident. Accused persons will be arrested," they said. The police station in-charge has been suspended.

An eight-member team of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) visited the spot in to investigate the blast. 

With agency inputs