Five people, including three women, were killed and 15 injured on Wednesday in an explosion in a house where fire crackers were being manufactured illegally for the Diwali festival.
The explosion took place at Mauaima in the trans-Ganga region, some 45 kms from here, at around 1000 hrs, police said.
A loud explosion was heard after the fire crackers caught fire, in-charge of Mauaima police station N R Verma said adding the fire soon engulfed the house.
A woman died at the scene and four more succumbed to injuries in hospital, SP (Trans-Ganga) Jai Parkash said.
The fire crackers were being illegally manufactured in the house, the SP said.
In Lucknow, UP DGP Brij Lal issued directives to district police heads to check illegal sale, manufacture and storage of fire crackers ahead of Diwali.
