Staff Report

HAFIZABAD: At least five persons have been reported killed and one hurt in a fireworks’ factory blast in Hafizabad today, SAMAA reported on Sunday.

According to initial reports, the blast took place in the go-down of the fireworks’ factory in Thatta Khokhran area of Hafizabad near Gujranwala.

The go-down was filled with fireworks goods, containing explosives, made at the factory and when a laborer tried to torch his cigarette, the fireworks goods caught fire and blasted with a loud bang.
 
Those who lost lives in the blast were laborers of the factory and the injured is also a factory worker.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the blast site and moved the dead bodies of deceased laborers and the injured to District Headquarters Hospital, Gujranwala.

The police have launched probe into the blast in the fireworks’ factory but none has been arrested yet.

In the mean time, it has been revealed that this factory was producing illegal fireworks' items and people were not aware of it. The factory owner is still at large while fear has gripped the locality after the blast. SAMAA