Saharanpur (UP), Apr 25 (UNI) Three workers were killed following an explosion in a licensed firecracker factory in Deoband area of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, police sources said here.

Police sources said that the factory was operating in the name of Eagle Fire Works at Jaroda Jatt village, which was run by three persons including Nafees, built on the land of Ankit Rana, a resident of Lalwala village.

Police said that the incident occurred on Saturday morning when some workers were preparing a mixture of firecracker making material for firecrackers in the factory.

"During this, the explosion took place and killed three people of Dalit community. "The deceased have been identified as Rahul Kumar (25), a resident of Fatehpur, Vishal (22), a resident of Gunarsa, and Vikas (20), a resident of Jaroda Jatt," they said.

Police said that the local residents and administrative officials reached the spot as soon as the information was received.

"Later, top police-administrative officials of Saharanpur and a forensic team also reached the spot," they said.

District Magistrate Manish Bansal, who reached the spot, said that three people who were running the factory have been taken into custody.

"About three people have died in the explosion, while some people have suffered minor injuries. The bodies of the deceased are being sent for post-mortem," he said.

People of the surrounding village, enraged by the incident, blocked the highway. Police and administrative officers got the jam cleared by convincing the people.

The DM said that the factory had the license for firecrackers.

"In reality, what type of firecrackers were being manufactured there will be known after the forensic investigation," he said.

He said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

SSP Saharanpur Rohit Kumar Sajwan, ADM Administration Dr Archana Dwivedi, ADM Finance and Revenue Rajneesh Kumar Mishra, Chief Fire Officer Pratap Singh, SDM Deoband Yuvraj Singh, CO Deoband Ravikant Parashar, Deoband Kotwali in-charge Dharmendra Kumar Sonkar are present on the spot.

District Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Pratap Singh said that the bomb disposal squad from Saharanpur Police Line will reach the spot and find out the nature of the explosion.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences and directed the administration to provide proper treatment to the injured.

The families of the deceased will be given compensation as per rules.

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