Meerut, April 13 -- An explosion in an illegal firecracker factory operating inside a house claimed two lives and left two young girls injured, in Nagariya Chikan village under Usawan police station limits of Badaun district on Friday evening, officials said. The intense blast also brought down the structure, located in a populated area, they added.

The deceased were identified as Umesh Chandra alias Rahul (40), and his cousin Manoj (35). Both were present inside the two-storied house when the explosion occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, the blast tore their bodies apart. Two girls-Saloni, 5, and Kiran (6), the daughters of Umesh's brother Omendra-were injured after they were trapped in the rubble. They were undergoing treatment at th...