Uttar Pradesh: Several killed in massive blast at Prayagraj-Kaushambi border; rescue ops underway

A massive explosion at a firecracker factory at the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border in Uttar Pradesh has left at least eight people dead, with more than 20 others injured as well.

The blast occurred in the Pipri Police Station area near the Manori Power House, after which police, fire brigade and Air Force personnel stationed nearby launched a joint rescue operation, the police said, as per a Times of India report.

A number of people have also been trapped in the debris of the factory, where the blaze has since been brought under control, Kaushambi District Magistrate Amit Pal said.

Five of the injured, who were in serious condition, were referred to the SRN Hospital in Prayagraj for advanced treatment soon after they were rescued from the factory.

The impact of the massive blast is also said to have damaged nearby structures, with five to six houses located adjacent to the factory collapsing due to the impact of the explosion.

Munish Kumar Pandey, a villager, told Dainik Bhaskar that the "explosions began at around 12:30 PM, at which time around two dozen people were inside the warehouse".

"My two younger brothers and my parents are missing. I didn't see them while we were running away," said another young girl, cited in the report as a survivor of the blast. She had reportedly been trapped underneath the debris and managed to crawl out about 15 minutes after the blast.

The police have now opened a probe into the firecracker factory blast, which will investigate whether the facility stored more gunpowder than is permitted by the authorities, given the scale of the blast, and the cause of the powerful explosion.