32 killed, 20 hurt in Patna blasts

At least 32 people were today killed and 20 others injured, many of them critically, in explosions that ripped through two cracker factories at Miyan Toli, about 50 kms from here, District Magistrate B Rajendra said.

Rajendra told reporters from the site that 32 bodies had been extricated from the debris of the two factories, that were reduced to ashes in the blasts. He said the toll was likely to rise as some bodies were still believed to be trapped in the debris. The injured had been rushed to a government hospital nearby.

The explosions were so powerful that the roofs and walls of the factories just collapsed under its impact and several persons were trapped in the inferno.

While several persons were charred to death, others perished on inhaling toxic fumes or were crushed to death as people ran helter-skelter to save themselves.

"We first heard a loud blast and then a series of explosions shook the whole place. The entire place presented a chaotic scene with everybody running for cover," said Aftab, a resident of Miyan Toli.

The injured had been rushed to hospitals at Bakhtiyarpur and Patna, official sources said.

Fire tenders fought for over two hours to bring the blaze under control, Senior Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan told reporters, adding that fire fighting operations were hindered due to the heavy crowding of the area having narrow lanes.

Both the factories were licensed and the owner of one them Md Hakim had been arrested in this connection, the official said adding that local people with the help of the police were clearing the debris to look for survivors.

DIG (Patna range) RP Singh said both the factories were licensed and the fire was suspected to have been caused by short circuit.