Explosion During Ravana Effigy Construction Injures Five in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Chaos erupted in Ghaziabad’s Sahibabad area on Monday morning when a fire broke out in a large hall at the Ramleela ground. Initial reports suggested the fire started at a nearby firecracker shop, prompting the fire department to respond swiftly. However, upon arrival, it became clear that the blaze originated from the community center behind the Ramleela ground.

Five individuals sustained injuries in the incident and were promptly taken to a local hospital. They were later referred to GTB Hospital for further treatment. The fire department received the emergency call around 9:26 AM, indicating a fire at the firecracker shop near Shani Chowk. Three fire tenders were dispatched immediately to the scene.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that the fire had actually ignited in the community center hall, where preparations for a Ravana effigy for the Ramleela performance were underway. Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion may have resulted from the use of fireworks or other explosive materials during the effigy construction, leading to a significant blast that caused two walls of the building to collapse.

The explosion sent shockwaves through the crowd present at the site. Emergency responders transported the injured to the nearest hospital, where they assessed their conditions. The fire department later confirmed that all five injured individuals included two identified as Rishabh and Harendra, while the identities of the other three victims remain unknown.

All injured parties are currently receiving medical care, and firefighters have successfully extinguished the blaze. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact causes of the explosion and fire, as well as to assess whether safety protocols were followed during the effigy construction.