Gorakhpur:
A pregnant woman was killed and three others were injured in an explosion in a cracker factory in Siktaur area of the district, police said today.
The explosion, which took place last evening, was so strong that the parts of the body of the woman were scattered in a 200 metre radius, they said.
The deceased woman was identified as 30-year-old Shanti of nearby Durgapur village. The injured were identified as Ravi, Meera and Nirmala, the police said.
The factory did not have a valid license, SSP Shalabh Mathur said. "Samples of explosives are being sent for forensic investigation," he said. District Magistrate Ravi Kumar NG has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
The factory belonged to one Iftekhar Ahmad of the village who is absconding since the incident, the SSP said, adding police teams have been deployed to nab the culprit.