Bihar, Oct 24: A massive explosion at a house in Alampur village, Bihar’s Siwan district, was triggered after firecrackers stored inside caught fire, setting off successive blasts that destroyed part of the building and killed several people. The death toll was initially reported as four but later rose to five, with authorities warning it could increase further.

 Representational Image 

What happened

The blast occurred around 5:30 pm on Friday in Alampur village, under the Jamo Bazar police station area. Preliminary police information indicates that a fire broke out among firecrackers kept inside the house-cum-manufacturing unit, causing the initial explosion and then igniting other stored material.

Witnesses said the explosions continued intermittently for nearly two hours as flames spread through the stockpile. The force of the blasts brought down part of the structure, scattering debris on to the road and complicating rescue efforts.

Casualties and rescue

Siwan Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni initially confirmed four deaths, while the district administration said the final count could not be verified immediately because bodies were badly damaged and identification was under way. Later, the SP said the Civil Surgeon’s medical team had confirmed five bodies recovered from the site.

Several people were feared trapped under the debris, and reports said three people remained unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath. Rescue teams worked through the site as repeated detonations hampered operations.

The suspected trigger

Officials believe the immediate cause was a fire in the firecracker stock, rather than a single deliberate explosion. Once the first firecrackers ignited, the flames reportedly reached other material stored in the premises, producing a chain of explosions.

The unit was operating from the house of Mohammad Amiruddin Mian, described locally as a firecracker trader. While some early reports described the unit as licensed, later police statements and reports characterised the manufacturing activity as illegal or unlicensed; the exact licensing status remains part of the investigation.

Official response

Siwan District Magistrate Vijay Prakash Meena and SP Bharat Soni visited the site to supervise rescue and investigation. Authorities have also taken action over alleged negligence, with reports saying two police personnel were suspended in connection with the incident.

Police said an investigation will establish whether safety norms were violated, how large the stockpile was, and who was responsible for operating the unit from a residential property. The final casualty count and forensic findings are awaited.