Explosion at firecracker plant near Prayagraj kills 11 and injures five

At least 11 fatalities and five injuries were reported after a massive blast tore through a firecracker manufacturing operation situated in a house near the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border. The incident occurred in the Pipri police-station vicinity close to the Manori power house, prompting police, fire services and personnel from the Manori Air Force Station, about 2 km away, to conduct a coordinated rescue. The initial fire ignited stored fireworks, causing successive explosions that scattered debris and shattered windows of surrounding houses, some of which collapsed.

Witnesses described thick smoke and loud detonations heard over a wide area. Rescue teams faced difficulty reaching the site while blasts continued, leading officials to restrict movement around the danger zone as they evaluated the extent of the damage.