LUCKNOW, Nov. 14 -- An explosion at a licensed firecracker factory in Barabanki district killed two people and left five critically injured on Thursday afternoon. The blast in Sarai Barai village under Tikaitnagar police station was so intense that the sound carried up to two kilometres, while nearby houses developed cracks.

"The factory had permission for limited storage. Whether the explosion was caused by excess stock or another factor will be determined after investigation," Ayodhya Range inspector general (IG) Praveen Kumar said, adding that forensic experts are collecting debris samples. Locals have been advised to stay alert and avoid handling leftover firecrackers.

The factory, around 500 metres from the nearby residential area,...