An explosion at an unauthorized fireworks factory in Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh, India, left 11 people dead and at least five others critically injured.

According to the Hindustan Times, citing local administrative officials, the tragic incident occurred on Monday (August 31) afternoon.

Kaushambi District Magistrate (DM) Amit Pal informed the media that the blast took place at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Manori village under the Pisri police station area.

The injured were rescued from the resulting fire and explosion and admitted to SRN Hospital in Prayagraj, where 11 succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment.

The condition of five others currently hospitalized remains critical.

Officials stated that all the deceased resided in the immediate vicinity of the factory. Given the massive scale of the blast, authorities fear the death toll could rise further, with at least 18 others reported injured.

The explosion occurred near the local Manori Power House.

The blast was so intense that the entire factory and multiple surrounding structures collapsed, completely flattening at least five to six houses adjacent to the site.

Following the explosion, train services on the nearby Delhi-Howrah railway line were suspended for about an hour as a security precaution.

The Ajmer-Sealdah Express was halted near the accident site and redirected back to Manori Railway station, while the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express was stopped at Saiyad Sarawan, the station just ahead of the blast site.