Ludhiana: A powerful explosion ripped through an alleged illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Punjab’s Ludhiana district on Tuesday night, killing 19-year-old youth and injuring a 13-year-old girl. Sources said 15-20 people were working in the building—rented out by a local contractor near a govt school in Jodhan village—at the time of the blast. The deceased has been identified as Kaif Shah, while the injured girl, Alisha, is receiving treatment for head injuries at civil hospital, Ludhiana. A fire official said they received a call at 8:20 pm. Two teams, including a unit from Mullanpur, rushed to the site to find villagers already engaged in rescue efforts. Dakha DSP Varinder Singh Khosa, who supervised the operations, said the Army has also been deployed to assist with the ongoing rescue. The force of the blast was so severe that roof slabs (lintels) of the unit and an adjacent building were destroyed. Preliminary investigations suggest that large quantities of explosive material were being stored inside the house for the illegal manufacture of firecrackers. Sources suggest a short circuit or accidental spark triggered the blast during a thunderstorm in Ludhiana.
