Five Killed in Blast at Illegal Firecracker Factory in Punjab's Muktsar

Chandigarh – At least five people were killed and 34 injured in a powerful explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Punjab’s Muktsar district early Friday, police said.

The blast occurred around midnight at a two-storey structure on the outskirts of Singhwala village, reducing the factory to rubble and trapping many under the debris. Most of the victims were migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The factory was reportedly owned by Tarsem Singh, who is linked to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Police said the explosion took place in one of the rooms where crackers were being manufactured, causing the roof to collapse.

Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Chaudhary confirmed that immediate rescue operations were launched after receiving reports of the blast. Injured individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals, including AIIMS Bathinda, and most are said to be out of danger.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh said five bodies had been recovered and 29 of the injured were taken to AIIMS Bathinda and hospitals in Muktsar. Rescue efforts are ongoing to search for any survivors under the debris.

Preliminary investigations suggest the blast was triggered by potash, a chemical commonly used in firecracker production.

Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Kaplish stated that the factory had not been granted a license under the Explosives Rules of 2008. “An application had been submitted by the owners, but approvals from various departments were still pending,” he said.

Scenes from the site showed scattered shoes, shattered glass, and damaged vehicles as rescue workers sifted through the wreckage.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal has demanded a full investigation and urged the government to provide immediate and adequate compensation to the victims’ families.

Calling the incident tragic, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khudian confirmed that while the owner was an AAP supporter, no one was above the law. “The law will take its course,” he stated.

This is not the first such tragedy in Punjab. In 2020, a similar blast at an illegal cracker unit in Batala killed 23 people and injured 27. Another explosion in Batala in 2017 left one dead and three injured.

With inputs from IANS