Prayagraj: At least 11 people were killed and five others injured after a massive explosion ripped through an illegally operated firecracker manufacturing unit in the Manauri Bazaar area on the Kaushambi-Prayagraj border in Kaushambi district at 11 am on Monday. Eight of the victims were minors and four were from a single family.The firecracker manufacturing unit having heavy storages of explosive material, was being operated from a house situated in agricultural fields without valid licence and following safety norms, says the FIR filed by victims’ family members.There were at least five houses adjacent to the structure, owned by brothers Naushad and Shakeel, where the firecracker unit was being run. The impact of the explosion extended beyond the firecracker unit, damaging at least five houses in the vicinity, while window panes of other nearby homes were also shattered.Police said the massive explosion left more than 16 people trapped and injured in four to five houses, and 11 of them succumbed to their injuries.The deceased were identified as Priyanjali (5), Pravin Singh (13), Janhvi (12), Aditya (12), Ravi (8), Gyan Singh (40), Aditya (8), Vikram Saroj (35), his wife Anju (32), his sons Ansh (6) and Nanha (4), all residents of Kaushambi.The injured persons, including Savita (36), Tannu (17), Rajesh (45), Anita (38) and Mala Devi, were admitted to SRN Hospital in Prayagraj and Kaushambi district hospital. None of the owners’ family members are among the deceased or injured.Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the injured at SRN Hospital following the explosion and directed the principal to ensure proper treatment. He said the govt would not allow any shortcomings in the treatment and assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty. Maurya also said he had spoken to the Kaushambi DM and SP and directed them to take necessary action.The blast also damaged a high-voltage electricity pole and power lines in the area. Electricity department personnel are working to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore power supply at the earliest. The Manori Air Force Station is located around two kilometres from the site.Upon being alerted, senior police and administrative officials, along with fire department teams and forensic experts from Prayagraj and Kaushambi rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations.Several fire tenders were also deployed to control the flames and assist in the rescue operation. Earthmovers were brought in to remove the debris and search for people who might have been trapped underneath. Debris from the explosion was scattered across the area.Eyewitnesses told police that a series of explosions occurred, following which smoke was spotted billowing from the building, prompting villagers to rush towards the spot.A senior administrative official said the fire brigade had brought the blaze under control and rescue operations were carried out to evacuate those trapped inside the unit.Preliminary investigations suggest that the firecracker manufacturing unit was operating from a house located some distance from the main settlement. More than a dozen people, including minors, were inside their houses, including the structure where the unit was operating, when the explosion occurred and left them trapped.It was assumed that a fire broke out inside the unit, triggering a series of explosions as stored firecrackers began detonating one after another. The continuing explosions initially made it difficult for rescue teams to inspect the spot.The initial investigation revealed that Kahkasha Bano, wife of Naushad Ali and a resident of Mahmoodpur, had obtained the manufacturing and storage licence on July 5, 2023, and it was valid until March 31, 2028.Senior police officials, along with forensic experts, are carrying out investigations to determine the exact cause of the explosion. A case under relevant sections of the BNS and the Explosives Act was also registered against six persons, including Naushad, Shakeel, Sabana, Kahkasha Bano, Adil and Syna, for illegal storage and manufacturing of firecrackers. Four teams have also been formed to ensure action against the culprits.