Daijiworld Media Network- Muktsar

Muktsar, May 30: In a horrifying incident that shook Punjab’s Muktsar district in the early hours of Friday, a powerful explosion at a licensed firecracker manufacturing unit in Fatuhiwala village, Lambi, claimed the lives of four workers and left 27 others injured. Rescue operations were underway late into the morning, as several workers were feared to be still trapped under debris.

The blast occurred around 1 am when nearly 40 labourers, many of whom had just completed their night shift, were resting inside the factory premises. The sudden explosion triggered panic and chaos, with parts of the double-storey structure collapsing in the aftermath.

“We were sleeping when the blast shook the entire building. Before we could react, the ceiling came down, trapping many of us,” recounted Arun Kumar, a surviving worker.

Fire tenders and police teams were rushed to the site, and rescue efforts began immediately. However, with rooms on the first floor also impacted, officials feared the toll could rise.

Lambi DSP Jaspal Singh confirmed, “We have recovered four bodies from the rubble. Twenty-seven injured workers have been shifted to AIIMS Bathinda for treatment. It was a licensed factory, located in the fields, away from any residential settlements. A thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause.”

Eyewitnesses said the intensity of the blast was such that it was heard several kilometres away. The local administration has called for an audit of all such factories in the area to prevent similar mishaps in the future.

The incident has sparked concern across the region, reviving the long-standing debate over safety compliance in fireworks factories. Authorities are expected to make a formal statement once rescue operations conclude.