Bijnor, April 8: Five workers were charred to death after an explosion at a firecracker factory at a village here on Thursday, police said. Police have arrested the operator of the unit, identified as Yusuf. The unit was being run from a house located in an isolated area at Bakshiwala village.

Superintendent of Police Dharamvir Singh said the explosion took place after gunpowder kept there caught fire. At the time of the incident, nine people were working there, four of whom managed to escape while the five were charged to death, he said.

The victims have been identified as nearby Bukhara residents Vedpal, Chintu, Pradeep, Sonu and Brajpal. The Superintendent of Police said within 20 minutes of the incident, a fire brigade reached the spot and controlled the flames. District Magistrate Ramakant Pandey said that crackers were being made on a valid licence. Uttar Pradesh: Explosion in Lanco Anpara Thermal Power Plant in Sonbhadra, 13 Labourers Injured.

Meanwhile, an official release in Lucknow said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident. He directed senior officials in the district to rush to the spot immediately and render all possible help to the affected persons, the release said. The chief minister also ordered an inquiry into the mishap and asked the district magistrate and the superintendent of police to submit a joint report.

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