Chandigarh, Oct. 23 -- As many as 15 people, including several children, sustained burn injuries after a powerful explosion ripped through a residential area near Cheema Chowk in Ludhiana on Sunday afternoon. The blast reportedly occurred after a stockpile of firecrackers and explosive material stored inside a house caught fire.
According to locals, the explosion took place in a house in Indira Colony, where fireworks and raw materials were allegedly being prepared and stored for sale ahead of the next Diwali season. The blast triggered a massive fire, gutting household items and sparking panic in the densely populated neighborhood. Residents said the sound of the explosion was so loud that people rushed out of their homes in fear. Neighbo...