A powerful explosion ripped through a residential building in the Sarnath area of Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Thursday, bringing down the structure and leaving at least three people reportedly injured, as police and emergency response teams launched a search for people feared trapped beneath the debris.
The explosion occurred in the Paigambarpur locality near Sarang Talab, under the jurisdiction of Sarnath police station. Preliminary reports suggested that an unauthorised firecracker manufacturing unit may have been operating inside the house, although authorities had yet to establish the exact cause of the blast.
The force of the explosion caused extensive structural damage, reducing much of the building to rubble and damaging a neighbouring house. The incident triggered panic among residents, who rushed out of their homes as the sound of the blast reverberated through the locality.
๐๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐
Initial investigations indicated that highly inflammable materials may have been stored inside the premises, where firecrackers were allegedly being manufactured. The possibility that these materials triggered the explosion is being examined, but officials have not confirmed the precise source of ignition or the sequence of events.
Local reports identified the property owner as Raju Khan, whose family members were reportedly among those caught in the collapse. Accounts differed over the number of people trapped, with some initial reports suggesting that as many as six people could have been inside or near the building when the explosion occurred.
The building was described as a two-storey structure in some reports and a three-storey house in others. Authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage and the number of people affected.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐
Police, fire brigade personnel and disaster response teams reached the spot soon after the explosion and began removing debris to locate those trapped.
Early reports confirmed that two men had been rescued from the rubble and taken for medical treatment. A woman was reported missing beneath the debris during the initial rescue operation, while subsequent reports indicated that emergency personnel were continuing to search for other possible victims.
Rescue teams exercised caution because of concerns that additional explosive or inflammable materials could remain inside the collapsed structure.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in to assist with the operation. Emergency personnel worked to clear the debris while attempting to prevent further injuries to residents and rescuers.
๐๐ง๐ฆ ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐น๐ฎ๐๐
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also reached the site to examine the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Investigators are looking into reports that firecrackers were being manufactured or stored at the residential property without the necessary authorisation.
Local reports said the family associated with the property had been involved in the firecracker business. Investigators will have to establish whether the premises were being used for manufacturing, what materials were stored there and whether applicable safety requirements were followed.
The explosion also damaged part of an adjoining building, raising concerns about the dangers posed by the suspected storage of explosive materials in a densely populated residential locality.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ด๐ถ ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to reach the site immediately and expedite rescue and relief operations.
He instructed the administration to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and extend all possible assistance to their families.
The Chief Minister's directions came as emergency teams continued their search of the collapsed structure amid concerns about the presence of additional inflammable materials.
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ
The incident has raised fresh concerns over suspected unauthorised firecracker manufacturing and storage in residential neighbourhoods ahead of the festive season.
Such activities can pose serious risks when inflammable materials are handled or stored without adequate precautions, particularly in closely built-up areas where an explosion can affect neighbouring homes.
The authorities have yet to confirm the final number of casualties, the full extent of structural damage or whether the suspected firecracker operation had the required permissions.
As of the latest reports reviewed on Thursday evening, two people had been confirmed rescued, while other accounts reported three injured and at least one person still feared trapped. The precise casualty count and cause of the explosion remained subject to official confirmation.