Bhagalpur: More than four years after a devastating explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit claimed 15 lives in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, a local court has sentenced two convicts to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-11 Jyoti Kumar Kashyap convicted Mohammad Azad, a resident of Chamelichak in Habibpur, and Naveen Mandal, a resident of Kajwalichak, for their role in the March 3, 2022 blast in the Tatarpur police station area.
Three other accused—Ashish Kumar Gupta, Ashok Mandal alias Guddu, and Dhananjay Mandal—were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Illegal Explosives Led to Deadly Blast
During the investigation, police found that explosive materials had been illegally stored for manufacturing firecrackers, leading to the powerful explosion. An FIR was registered by the then Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Purnendu Kumar of Tatarpur Police Station. During the trial, statements of 13 witnesses were recorded.
What Happened on the Night of March 3, 2022?
Residents of Kajwalichak had retired for the night when a series of powerful explosions ripped through the neighbourhood shortly after midnight.
Within minutes, a two-storey building and three adjoining houses were reduced to rubble. The impact of the blast was so intense that it was heard up to five kilometres away, while debris was scattered across a large area.
The explosion killed 15 people, including five members of a single family and a newborn child. Four families were devastated in the tragedy.
Fourteen victims died at the scene, while 23-year-old Ayesha later succumbed to her injuries during treatment at a hospital in Siliguri. More than ten others were injured and admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (Mayaganj Hospital).
Before emergency teams arrived, local residents began rescuing people trapped beneath the debris.
Eyewitnesses Recall the Horror
Residents described scenes of panic and devastation in the aftermath of the blast.
Many initially believed an earthquake had struck due to the force of the explosion. Thick smoke engulfed the area for nearly half an hour, making visibility extremely poor.
The explosion was reportedly heard from Station Chowk to Urdu Bazaar, covering a radius of nearly five kilometres.
One survivor recalled waking up to the blast and finding himself disoriented amid collapsed buildings and screams for help.
Another resident said the smell of gunpowder spread rapidly across the neighbourhood immediately after the explosion, confirming fears that explosives had detonated.
Massive Rescue Operation
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation carried out rescue and debris clearance operations for nearly 18 hours.
Forensic experts recovered approximately 500 grams of explosive material from the site.
The then Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sujit Kumar had stated that the explosion resulted from the illegal manufacture and storage of firecrackers. Following the incident, the then Tatarpur Station House Officer was suspended, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted under the supervision of the Sadar DSP.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also investigated the case and concluded that the blast occurred during the illegal manufacture of firecrackers at the residence of Leelawati Devi, who was among those killed in the explosion.
National Attention
The incident drew national attention, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the situation.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, the Prime Minister conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.
Victims of the Tragedy
The 15 victims included:
- Aarti Kumari (24)
- Ayansh Kumar (2)
- Pinki Devi (30)
- Priyanshu Kumar (15)
- Mahendra Mandal (70)
- Sheila Devi (55)
- Nandani Devi (26)
- Ganesh Prasad Singh (60)
- Leelawati Devi (55)
- Rahul Kumar alias Rohit (20)
- Urmila Devi (60)
- Monu Kumar (3)
- Rajkumar Shah (45)
- Sunil Kumar Mandal alias Sanjay Mandal
- Ayesha Devi
The court’s verdict brings a significant legal conclusion to one of Bihar’s deadliest firecracker factory explosions, though the tragedy continues to remain etched in the memory of the residents of Kajwalichak.
