Bihar village rocked by firecracker explosion; casualties feared

A catastrophic explosion ripped through a house in Alampur village, Siwan district, Bihar on Friday after firecrackers stored inside caught fire. The blast was of such intensity that the front portion of the structure collapsed onto the adjacent street, leaving surrounding homes damaged.

According to preliminary reports, multiple people are feared to have been in or near the building at the time of the explosion. Successive blasts continued at intervals for approximately two hours, hampering initial rescue and assessment efforts.

Local authorities reached the scene and launched search and recovery operations. However, an official death toll had not been confirmed at the time of reporting. The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safe storage and handling of firecrackers in residential areas across the state.

Siwan district officials said an investigation into the circumstances leading to the fire was underway. Preliminary findings suggest the firecrackers may have been stored in large quantities within the residential premises.