Punjab: Several injured in explosion at fire cracker godown

Fourteen persons were injured, three of them critically, in an explosion today at a fire cracker godown situated on the Nillowal road here, police said.
The exact reason behind the explosion could not be ascertained but the intensity of the blast was high as the roof of the godown caved in and four nearby houses also suffered damage, they said.
"14 persons have sustained injuries while three of them, who are critical, have referred sent to the Rajendra hospital in Patiala," Sangrur DSP (Sunam) William Jeji said.
Asked whether there was any casualty in the incident, he said the rescue operations were underway at present.

"There was information about a boy in the cracker store. We are trying to look for him by removing debris," Sangrur Deputy Commissioner A S Virk said.
Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot and JCB machines deployed to remove the debris, he said.
The owner of the store is absconding since the incident, he said.