Prayagraj: The death toll in the Kaushambi illegal firecracker factory explosion rose to 14 on Wednesday even as police stepped up efforts to nab arrested factory owner Naushad Ali ’s wife, Kahkasha Bano, son Adil and brother Shakeel, who have been absconding since the blast.
Police have also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 each for information leading to the arrest of the three accused. Police said Urvashi (17), a resident of Bamrauli in Puramufti and among those critically injured in the explosion, died during treatment early Wednesday. Kaushambi police had arrested Naushad Ali (35) during an encounter near the Kazipur turn on Tuesday while he was allegedly trying to flee. Police claimed that Naushad had obtained a licence for the manufacture and storage of firecrackers in Nov 2021 for five years, valid till March 31, 2026. A joint team of the administration and police inspected the site and detected irregularities at the godown, following which the licence was suspended in April 2024. In Oct 2024, after learning that the unit was still operating, the police registered a case against him and sent him to jail.
After being released on bail, he allegedly resumed the illegal manufacture, sale and storage of firecrackers. Three other injured victims are still undergoing treatment at SRN Hospital. A joint team of police and the district administration also conducted a search at a godown belonging to Kahkasha Bano in the Mooratganj area and reportedly seized a cache of firecrackers. The seized stock will be destroyed. However, Naushad allegedly continued to store firecrackers illegally.
On Tuesday night, authorities also demolished a house belonging to Adil, alleging it had been constructed without approval of the building plan from the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA).