Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Kaushambi Blast Toll Reaches 14 as Accused’s House Demolished
A firecracker factory in Manouri, Kaushambi, exploded on August 31.
Fourteen people died, including 11 children.
A 17-year-old injured person named Urvashi later died in hospital.
Officials said the factory was operating illegally.
They demolished the three-storey house of Naushad, who is accused of being the main operator.
Naushad and two women connected to him were arrested.
Police are searching for three other suspects and arrested four people in separate raids.
Nine police personnel were taken off duty because they were accused of allowing the illegal factory to operate.
The August 31 blast at an illegal cracker factory in Manouri killed 14 people, including 11 children, after 17-year-old Urvashi died during treatment.
Authorities demolished accused Naushad’s three-storey house, citing missing building-plan approval and other permissions.
Naushad, his sister-in-law Shabana, and niece Saina were arrested; Shakeel, Adil, and Kahkashan Begum remain wanted with Rs 25,000 rewards each.
Police seized six sacks of firecrackers from a warehouse linked to Kahkashan Bano and arrested four people in separate crackdown operations.
Nine police personnel were taken off duty over alleged negligence, while authorities investigated illegal properties and possible violations of explosives laws.
- Who
- The victims, accused factory owner Naushad and associates, wanted suspects, police, and local authorities.
- What
- An illegal cracker-factory blast killed 14 people and led to demolitions, arrests, firecracker seizures, and disciplinary action against police personnel.
- When
- The blast occurred on August 31, 2026; Naushad’s house was demolished from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday, with the actions reported on September 2.
- Where
- The blast occurred in Manouri, in the Pipri police-station area of Kaushambi, near the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border. Related actions took place in Muratganj, Deviganj, and Mahewa Ghat.
- Why
- Authorities said the factory and related storage operations were illegal, while Naushad’s house lacked required building approval and other permissions.
- Death toll
- 14 people, including 11 children; 17-year-old Urvashi later died at SRN Hospital in Prayagraj.
- Blast date
- August 31, 2026
- Demolished property
- Naushad’s unauthorized three-storey house
- Demolition duration
- About 11 hours, from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday
- Primary arrests
- Naushad, Shabana, and Saina
- Wanted suspects
- Shakeel, Adil, and Kahkashan Begum; a Rs 25,000 reward was announced for information on each.
- Crackdown seizures
- Six sacks of firecrackers were seized from one warehouse; another raid recovered 218 kg of explosive material, along with manufactured and semi-manufactured firecrackers.
- Police action
- Nine police personnel were taken off duty over alleged negligence.
