# Blast Rocks Sahibabad Community Hall While Packing Crackers into Ravana Effigy, Five Injured

> Five workers suffered severe burn injuries and two walls collapsed after fireworks exploded during the preparation of a Ravana effigy at a municipal community centre in Lajpat Nagar, Sahibabad.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-10-05 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/dashahara-se-pahale-sahibabad-men-ravana-ke-putale-men-baruda-bharate-vakta-bhishana-visphota-pancha-majadura-jhulase-43189 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Dussehra, Ravana effigy, firecracker blast, Lajpat Nagar, Safdarjung Hospital

A severe explosion occurred during Dussehra preparations in Ghaziabad, leaving five workers injured and causing significant structural damage to a civic facility. The incident took place on the morning of October 5 inside a municipal corporation community centre situated in Lajpat Nagar, Sahibabad. Workers were actively packing firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials into the framework of a Ravana effigy when an accidental blast was triggered. The force of the explosion was powerful enough to bring down two exterior walls of the facility's large hall, triggering immediate panic across the surrounding neighborhood.

## Flames Erupt Inside Municipal Hall During Effigy Setup
The emergency unfolded at around 9:26 AM on October 5. Initially, the control room at Sahibabad Fire Station received an alert stating that a fire had broken out at a fireworks shop near Shani Chowk by the Ramlila ground. Responding swiftly to the distress call, the Chief Fire Officer alongside the In-charge Fire Officer of Sahibabad rushed to the location accompanied by three fire tenders. However, upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that the fire was not at a retail cracker shop, but rather inside the spacious hall of the municipal community centre located directly behind the Ramlila ground.

Firefighters acted rapidly to bring the blaze under control before it could spread further. A subsequent inspection of the hall revealed that the space was being utilized to construct a giant Ravana effigy for the upcoming festive celebrations. While workers were stuffing explosive fireworks and pyrotechnics into the effigy structure, sparks triggered an uncontrolled ignition that culminated in the blast. The sheer pressure of the detonation knocked down two internal walls of the hall, scattering debris across the area.

## Burn Victims Transferred to Premier Hospitals in Delhi
According to available details, the local Ramlila Committee had awarded the contract for constructing the Ravana effigy to an individual named Anil Singh. His laborers were handling the task of loading fireworks into the effigy when the sudden flare-up engulfed them. All five individuals who sustained burns were immediately rushed to MMG Hospital for urgent medical attention. Following initial stabilization, attending doctors determined that the severity of their burn trauma warranted specialized intervention.

Due to critical conditions, two of the injured victims were transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, while the remaining three workers were admitted to GTB Hospital in Delhi for comprehensive treatment. Teams from both the police and fire departments visited the hospital facilities to record details and track the medical progress of the victims. Authorities have officially identified two of the injured individuals as Rishabh and Harendra, while verification of the identities of the other three workers remains underway.

## Police Dismiss Rumors of Illegal Cracker Manufacturing
In the immediate aftermath of the loud explosion, local rumors began circulating that an illicit firecracker manufacturing unit was being operated out of the municipal premises. Police authorities promptly moved to quell these speculations and clarify the facts. ACP Sahibabad Amit Saxena stated unequivocally that no commercial cracker production was taking place on the site. He affirmed that the workers were strictly engaged in stuffing pyrotechnics into the festive effigy ahead of Dussehra, during which the accidental ignition occurred.

## What this means for you
Neglecting basic safety protocols while packing explosives into festive effigies poses severe risks to human life and civic infrastructure.

- **Across India:** Ahead of Dussehra, pyrotechnics are packed into effigies across thousands of venues nationwide, often without basic safety gear or fire suppression equipment. Festival committees must enforce strict handling guidelines to prevent catastrophic accidental ignitions in public places.
- **In Ghaziabad:** Residents of Sahibabad and surrounding localities face direct safety hazards when hazardous materials are handled inside public community centres. The municipal corporation and district administration are expected to tighten scrutiny across all local effigy assembly sites.
- **For workers and families:** Laborers, including minors, handling festive pyrotechnics require mandatory protective gear and training to prevent life-threatening burns. Families now face lengthy recovery periods as critical victims receive specialized treatment in Delhi burn units.
- **For organizers:** Ramlila committees and private contractors face legal accountability and liability if they handle explosive materials in enclosed halls without fire clearances. Strict adherence to storage rules is critical to prevent site shutdowns and festive disruptions.

## Why this happened
The accident was caused by an accidental ignition while pyrotechnic materials were being packed into a Ravana effigy inside an enclosed civic community centre hall.

- **Direct Cause:** Fireworks and explosive materials being loaded inside the framework of the effigy ignited unexpectedly due to accidental friction or an errant spark.
- **Structural Impact:** The confinement of detonating fireworks within a closed municipal hall generated intense blast pressure, resulting in the collapse of two building walls.
- **Initial Confusion:** Fire services were initially dispatched for a reported blaze at a retail cracker shop, but responders uncovered the effigy assembly site upon arrival.
- **Official Findings:** Police dismissed rumors alleging an illegal cracker factory, confirming that the site was solely commissioned by the local Ramlila committee to assemble the festive effigy.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where did the explosion take place in Ghaziabad?
The blast occurred inside a large hall of the municipal community centre located in Lajpat Nagar, Sahibabad.

### 2. What activity was underway when the blast occurred?
Workers were packing firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials into a Ravana effigy for the upcoming Dussehra festival.

### 3. How many people were injured in the incident?
Five people sustained severe burn injuries in the explosion, including some minors.

### 4. Which hospitals were the injured victims sent to?
Two critically injured individuals were transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, while three others were admitted to GTB Hospital.

### 5. What are the names of the identified victims?
Authorities have identified two of the injured victims as Rishabh and Harendra, with the remaining three still being verified.

### 6. Was there an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit operating at the site?
No, ACP Sahibabad Amit Saxena confirmed that no cracker factory was operating and only effigy stuffing was underway.

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