Fire in ‘illegal’ factory kills two

Two persons died, and four others were seriously injured when a fire broke out at an illegal mini-factory manufacturing firecrackers within the limits of the Ravi Police Station, police sources said.

The rescue team provided medical aid to all the injured and shifted them to the hospital.

Zafar Iqbal, rescue in charge, said that Ahmed and Fauzia Bibi had been referred to a hospital in Lahore in critical condition where they died of their injuries.

The condition of the other injured people was said to be stable. DPO Mansoor Aman took strict notice of the incident and ordered the Ravi police to take legal action and crack down on those who manufactured illegal fireworks across the district.

Ravi police station arrested Ali Raza and Rizwan and seized a huge quantity of fireworks.

The police have started raids to arrest the owner of the factory and two of his employees.

In the light of the orders of DPO Mansoor Aman, Basirpur Police Station also took action in several places, seized a huge amount of firecrackers and registered cases against the accused. Two suspects were also arrested.

DPO Mansoor Aman said that the writ of law would be maintained in all cases throughout the district.

He said that the explosion in the firecrackers factory in the limits of the Ravi Police Station, and the death of two persons was a sad incident.

As soon as police learnt about the incident, not only a report had been called for, but two persons were also arrested after registering a case against them.

According to the hospital administration, best medical care was being provided to the injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2023.