Fatuhiwala (Lambi), May 30 —Five people were killed and 29 others injured when a powerful explosion tore through a firecracker factory in Fatuhiwala village in the Lambi segment of Muktsar district early Friday morning.
The blast occurred around 1 a.m., jolting workers—many of them migrant labourers—as they rested inside the premises after a night shift. According to preliminary accounts, approximately 40 people were inside the factory at the time.
“We were sleeping after the night shift when all of a sudden a blast occurred and many of us got trapped under the debris,” said Arun Kumar, one of the workers who survived the incident.
Local residents described the unit as a double-storey structure with rooms on the upper floor, which reportedly collapsed due to the explosion. Rescue teams from the fire department and local police rushed to the scene within minutes.
As of the time of reporting, some individuals remained trapped under the rubble. Efforts to pull them out were ongoing, officials confirmed.
Killianwali Station House Officer Karamjit Kaur confirmed the toll. “Five deaths have been reported, while 29 people are injured. We are registering a case. A team of forensic experts is about to reach the spot,” she said.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. However, Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Chaudhary, who visited the factory site, assured a detailed inquiry. “The matter will be thoroughly investigated,” he said.
Authorities have yet to confirm the ownership and licensing status of the factory, and further action is expected once forensic analysis is complete.
