Youth hurt in potash explosion
A young cyclist suffered burn injuries when potash he was carrying in his pocket exploded on his way home. Bystanders rushed him to the Civil Hospital for treatment.
Although the use of potash explosives is banned, many, including minors, were reportedly seen using it to ignite firecrackers with steel pipes in the area on Thursday.
The injured youth, 17-year-old Abhishek from Ram Nagar behind Tara Estate, stated he had collected potash from a friend to celebrate Diwali. He said the potash exploded after rubbing against his bicycle, causing significant burns to his thighs and hands along with damaging his bike.
The local administration had issued 25 licenses for firecracker sales and designated PUDA Colony lawns for vendors. However, many stalls were reported empty on Thursday night, with all firecrackers sold out. A few wholesale vendors had limited stock that they sold on Friday. The Municipal Corporation earned Rs 21,000 from provisional licenses and space rental for setting up tents for three days.
Despite the official sales, reports indicated firecrackers were still being sold in unauthorised locations. Popular items included China-made fireworks and loud ‘sutli’ bombs. The municipal corporation had conducted raids at four locations days before Diwali, recovering fireworks; however, no cases have been filed so far.
