Girl killed, 3 injured in Rajpura cracker blast

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 11

A 13-year-old girl was killed and three others — aged six, eight and 14 years — were severely injured in a blast inside a house at Jhandoli village in Rajpura.

According to the police, a cracker manufacturing unit was being run illegally from the house. The roof of the house was blown apart in the blast. While Manpreet Kaur died on the spot, the injured were taken to a Chandigarh hospital. A police team visited the spot and started their investigation.

Rajpura DSP Gurbans Singh Bains said a major portion of the roof was missing while a part collapsed with the impact. “A team of forensics experts visited the spot to ascertain if the blast was accidental or due to some other reason. However, prima facie it looks like a cracker factory blast,” he said, adding potassium was recovered from the scene.

The owner, Krishan Kumar, and his wife were away when the incident took place. The police said they would register an FIR and that their first priority was ensuring the safety of the children.