Fire at cracker factory in Shahibabad kills one

The Sahibabad region adjacent to Hindon Air Force station saw a massive fire in a cracker factory situated in Farrukhnagar village which led to the death of one person while one is critically injured who is still under treatment at GTB Hospital. 

The area dwells a number of cracker manufacturing units which stays open for all twelve months of the year. The manufactured crackers are sold all over Ghaziabad and nearby cities making a business of around Rs 90 crore.

The blaze started at around 8 am and the cause of fire is yet to be established. Imran, (36) who died on the spot, is a resident of Farrukhnagar. Another worker at the factory, Umesh (18), a resident of Asalatpur area of Farrukhnagar is still under treatment.

“The incident was reported at around 8.30. We rushed to the spot and found a person dead while one was 100 percent burnt who was taken to nearby Guru Teg Bahadur hospital. We are still investigating for further results and information will only be given after that,” said Anil KumarYadav, circle officer, Loni. The cracker’s factory is located in Asalatpur village of Farrukhnagar which is a licensed permanent factory on the name of Iqrar, license holder. An FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint from the deceased’s family members added Yadav.

“Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot as soon we received the information at 8.10 am. We managed to extinguish the fire soon and now we are now establishing the cause of fire,” said A K Sharma, chief fire officer, Ghaziabad.

The incident raises a question on Ghaziabad administration to permit and issue around 60 licenses to cracker manufacturing factories in this area unaware of the newbies working in the factories. The blast was so massive that it badly threatened the people living in the area.

The administration is now finding the reason, escaping from the real reason behind permitting these factories licences to get established near the country’s esteemed air force station.