Smoke and flames billow out after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop, in Jharkhand’s Garhwa, on Monday.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Five people, including two children, were charred to death in a massive fire that broke out at a cracker shop in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district on Monday afternoon.

The tragic incident took place in Godarmana market under Ranka police station area of the district. Police said the shop caught fire during the testing of the firecrackers.

The firecracker shop was set up for the upcoming Holi festival in the market located along the border of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. As the fire broke out, the loud sound of firecrackers ripped through the shop as the storekeeper and four others including two children who were at the premises lost their lives.

Later, police reached the spot along with firefighters after which the fire was brought under control. Locals picked the bodies and were taken to a government hospital in Ramanujganj in Chhattisgarh for the treatment where a doctor declared them dead.

Garhwa Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepak Pandey also reached Ramanujganj Hospital. “The children had gone to buy crackers; they were trying to light the crackers to see if they were working or not. The fire broke out during the trial,” Mr. Pandey told media personnel.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire. “A tragic news has been received about the death of 5 people due to a fire that broke out in a firecracker shop in Ranka block of Garhwa district. May Marang Buru grant peace to the souls of the deceased and give strength to the grieving family members to bear this difficult time of sorrow. The district administration is investigating the matter,” Mr. Soren posted the message on social media platform X.

Criticising the government, Bharatiya Janata Party Garhwa MLA Satyendra Nath Tiwari raised this issue in Jharkhand Assembly. He demanded action against the officials responsible for issuing a licence to sell firecrackers in densely populated areas.