PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 31 -- A massive explosion at an alleged illegal firecracker factory in Kaushambi district on Monday left at least 11 people dead, including eight children, and injured more than a dozen others. The powerful blast completely razed the factory building and damaged several nearby houses, triggering panic across the area.

Among the deceased are Pravin (13), Priyanshi (5), Priyanjali (5), Praveen Singh (13), Jhanvi (12), Aditya (12), Ravi (8), Gyan Singh (40), Aditya (8), Anju (32), Vikram Saroj (35), Ansh (6) and Nanha (4) who succumbed in the mishap. Many of the injured were rushed to SRN Hospital in Prayagraj and remain in a critical condition. Hospital officials said that the condition of several injured persons at SRN Hos...