Bhagalpur: At least seven persons were killed and several others injured after a massive explosion ripped through a three-storey building on Thursday night in Bihar's Bhagalpur district.
The explosion took place at around 11.30 p.m. in the house in Kajwali Chak village under Tatarpur police station.
Police and emergency services immediately rushed to the scene and began rescue and relief operations. Ten to 15 people are feared trapped under the debris of the collapsed building.
Of the seven victims, two were identified as Ganesh Prasad Singh (60), Urmila Devi (65), while the identities of the five remaining were not known yet.
The injured persons have been identified as Soni Kumari (30), Navin Mandal (32), Rahul Kumar (20) Aayesha Kumari (25), Rinku Kumar Shah (30), Vaishnavi (30) and Jaya (35).
The wounded were shifted to JLN Hospital, Mayaganj where doctors declared four people dead on arrival. The others are undergoing treatment.
Bhagalpur District Magistrate, Subrat Kumar Sen, said, "Prima facie it is coming to light that the family residing in the house where the explosion took place was involved in making firecrackers."
He said that a team of police reached the spot immediately after getting the information about the explosion at around 11.30 pm on Thursday, adding that the debris of the collapsed building is being moved with the help of JCB.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, Mr Sen said.
According to police officials, the death count can increase as the work of removing the debris is underway.
Two to three adjoining houses were also damaged in the powerful blast, officials said.