Bihar: 5 killed, 30 injured in blast at illegal Nalanda firecracker unit, CM orders probe

Patna:
Five people were killed and 30 others injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker unit in Bihar's Nalanda district late Thursday night, police said.
Expressing grief over the incident, chief minister Nitish Kumar ordered an inquiry into the incident and issued instructions for providing adequate medical assistance to the injured.
A two-member team, comprising Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor and deputy inspector general (central range) Rajesh Kumar, has been formed to conduct the inquiry.
The explosion occurred around 10.30pm at a house in Khasganj village from where a man, identified as Mohamad Sarfaraz, allegedly ran the illegal firecracker unit. He also sustained injuries in the blast and undergoing treatment.
The cause of the blast is being investigated.
The police said Sarfaraz used to live in the house in Sohsarai police station area, 76 km southeast of state capital Patna, as a tenant.
The deceased have been identified as Sarfaraz's two daughters — one-month-old Sumera and three-year-old Taniq Fatima—three-year-old son Sartaz and sister Shaista. The fifth victim has been identified as Munna Pandit, 28.
The police said about 30 people were injured as the explosion damaged many structures in the crowded residential locality. The seriously injured had been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), they added.
The police said a bomb disposal team had also confirmed that an illegal firecracker unit was running from the house.
“India has a huge demand for firecrackers and it has gone up ahead of the Ram Navami festival which will be celebrated on March 25,” the police said.
“The blast site has been cordoned off and we have sought assistance from the forensic team to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion as well as the nature of explosives,” Nalanda district magistrate Thiyagrajan SM said.