Jaipur, June 9 -- Eight persons were burnt alive in a fire that raged after a blast at an illegal cracker godown here in Khoh Nagoriyan area on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The fire erupted in a small house in Ayesha Nagar Talai colony, where firecrackers were allegedly kept, they said.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot offered their condolences over the incident.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vinod Sharma said eight persons have died in the blaze.
Of them, five died during treatment at SMS Hospital while one, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, was brought dead. Two succumbed to critical burn injuries at a private hospital.
Seven of the eight deceased were identified as Sameer, Aajim, Nasir, Abdul Wahid, Rabil, Bilal and Ashraf.
Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak said that according to preliminary information, combustible material stored inside the premises likely caused the fire.
"There was some inflammable material in the house, while the exact cause will be established after a detailed investigation," Nayak said.
Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the house was being used as a godown for firecrackers, with a manufacturing unit in its vicinity.
"Prima facie, it appears to be a storage facility," Mittal said.
Eyewitnesses said as flames rapidly engulfed the house, workers ran for their lives, some getting trapped inside.
A few of those who escaped collapsed on the road outside, while many lay writhing in pain.
Locals rescued some of the trapped and tried to douse the flames before the fire brigade arrived.
Kishanpole MLA Amin Kagzi went to SMS Hospital to enquire about the injured and pulled up authorities for allowing a hazardous facility to operate in a residential area.
"Did the police not know that a gunpowder and fireworks factory was functioning in a residential
locality? People are not speaking openly. There are still no clear answers about ownership and accountability," Kagzi told reporters.
He alleged collusion between authorities and those operating the facility, and accused the administration of putting other residents' lives in danger.
A local said that an explosion was heard before flames leapt up and swept the entire house.
"A water tanker was called, and we tried to enter with a hose pipe. We managed to pull out three or four people," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.