Siwan, October 23 — The death toll in the firecracker explosion at a house in Alampur village in Bihar's Siwan district has risen to five, Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said on Friday night. "Based on the assessment by the medical team, the Civil Surgeon has confirmed that 5 dead bodies have been recovered," Soni told the media, in remarks carried by ANI. He said seven to eight members were in the house when the blast occurred, five of whom have been confirmed dead.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
The explosion occurred at around 5:30 pm on Friday at the house of Mohd Amiruddin Mian, a firecracker trader, in the Jamo Bazar police station area. A fire in firecrackers stored and manufactured at the house set off a chain of blasts that continued intermittently for nearly two hours; the front portion of the two-storey house collapsed and debris fell onto the road. District Magistrate Vijay Prakash Meena had earlier told PTI that three people were killed and three others suffered minor injuries, before further bodies were recovered.
Source: Jagran (PTI remarks)
Awaaz Punjab's first report on this blast carried the death toll as officially unconfirmed, with the DM saying two to three bodies had been located. The SP's statement on Friday night, citing the Civil Surgeon, now confirms five bodies recovered. Read the first report
One more body feared in the debris, SP says
Soni said a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has arrived at the scene, the fire has been completely extinguished, and a thorough search of the entire house is under way. A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team is also present and drones have been deployed to survey the area. "The Civil Surgeon's team suspects that there may be another body in the debris," he said, adding that an FIR is being registered and the investigation will establish the actual cause of the blast.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
Local reports say children from the family and the neighbourhood are among the dead. Awaaz Punjab is not naming or giving identifying details of any minor victim. Police have not yet released a complete official list of the deceased in the reports available so far.
SHO and chowkidar suspended; special team probing
The Jamo Bazar station house officer and local chowkidar Chandrika Manjhi have been suspended with immediate effect over alleged negligence at the police-station level, Siwan Police said. A special police team under the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Maharajganj, is investigating, and the Circle Inspector of Maharajganj has been appointed investigating officer in the preliminary case registered on the police statement. Teams from the district administration, fire services, electricity department, dog squad and medical department were deployed at the site.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
What is solid
- Five bodies have been recovered and the count is confirmed by the Civil Surgeon, Siwan SP Bharat Soni said on Friday night (ANI); Jagran also reports five bodies recovered, after the DM's initial figure of three killed and three with minor injuries (PTI)
- The blast occurred at about 5:30 pm on Friday at firecracker trader Mohd Amiruddin Mian's house in Alampur, Jamo Bazar area; blasts continued for nearly two hours and part of the house collapsed (ANI; Jagran)
- The Jamo Bazar SHO and chowkidar Chandrika Manjhi have been suspended over alleged negligence, and FSL and BDDS teams are at the site (ANI)
What is only claimed
- Whether one more body remains in the debris is a suspicion stated by the SP citing the Civil Surgeon's team — it is not a confirmed sixth death, and the search is continuing
- ANI and police describe the unit as illegal firecracker manufacturing; earlier Bhaskar reporting said a manufacturing licence had been obtained about 20 years ago and officials were checking whether it was still valid — the licence position remains under investigation
- Some reports have quoted higher toll figures (up to seven); those figures are not confirmed — the police-confirmed recovered count is five