PATIALA: A 12-year-old girl died while three other children aged 6 years, 8 years and 13 years old, were left injured in a blast that took place in a house in Jandoli village of Rajpura in Punjab's Patiala district on Saturday.
The police said that the blast took place in the house where illegal manufacturing of crackers was operational, however it was being investigated that since how long the illegal manufacturing was being run in the house.
The police revealed that the blast took place at 10.30am on Saturday following which the villagers gathered and informed the police about the incident after which the injured were rushed to the hospital.
The girl who died on the spot has been identified as Manpreet Kaur, 12, while the injured are identified as Krishan, Gurpreet Singh and Pallavi. The police said that the high intensity blast had led to the collapse of the walls and the roof of the house had also fallen. The injured Pallavi has been referred to PGI Chandigarh while her brother Krishan was hospitalized in government Rajindra hospital along with Gurpreet Singh who is brother of the deceased girl. The police and the district administrative officials reached the spot along with some forensic teams to investigate the matter.
In their primary investigation, the police have recovered potassium which is used for the illegal manufacturing of the crackers. The police claimed that it was also being probed whether the children were being used in the illegal manufacturing or it was an accident that took place in the absence of the parents of the children.
SSP Patiala Sandeep Garg said, “It was not a factory but only a single room of the house where the illegal manufacturing of crackers was being done. It is part of an investigation where the accused were supposed to supply the crackers. The village is on the outskirts of Rajpura town. The action in accordance with the law and further investigation is underway and none of the guilty will be spared.”
Gurmel Singh, Sarpanch of Jandoli village said, “The blast occurred in the Chabra colony of our village where most of the residents were migrants but are living from past one or two decades and have owned their houses. The village is around 30 km away from Patiala city. The blast was of high intensity following which the villagers gathered at the spot and found the part of the house collapsed. The owner of the house was earlier working as a brick kiln worker but we are shocked to learn about the illegal crackers being manufactured here.”
DSP Rajpura, GS Bains, said, “Krishan Kumar, owner of the house and his wife were out of their home when the incident took place. Only four children were present in the house. Pallavi has been shifted to PGI Chandigarh following serious injuries while two children are hospitalized in Government Rajindra hospital. The 12 year old Manpreet died on the spot but her brother Gupreet is hospitalized. Manpreet’s parents are in a state of deep shock and unable to give any statement at this moment. Similarly, grandfather to Pallavi and her brother Krishan, neighbours to the deceased girl, have also gone in a shock. The case is being registered under IPC sections after the statements are recorded.”
Earlier blasts:
In 2017, four days ahead of Diwali, a 13-year-old girl died following a blast in Sorgir Basti of Rajpura during manufacturing of illegal crackers in the area. Similarly, in December 2017, a blast occurred in an illegal cracker factory in Mirch Mandi area of Rajpura leaving a 35 year old man dead on the spot while four others including Rupinder, Narinder, Laxman and Dharampal were injured.
