New Delhi: An explosion at a firecracker factory in Uttar Pradesh killed eight people and injured three on Friday, police said.“The roof was blown away due to the impact of the explosion. The reason is not immediately clear,” said Surendra Singh, a police official in Badaun district.Badaun senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashok Kumar said, “Seven persons died on the spot, while one person succumbed in hospital. Three injured have been admitted to the district hospital. Their condition is serious.”The intensity of the blast was so strong that people sitting in an adjacent cycle shop and some passersby were injured in the incident, the SSP said.“Two passersby were among those killed,” he said.Sub-divisional magistrate of Badaun Parasnath Maurya said the deceased have been identified as Guddu Sharma (23), Sher Singh (55), Ramesh (30), Sanju (34), Pannalal (41), Yameen (42) and Satish (24). The identity of one victim is yet to be ascertained.The district administration had pressed excavators and fire brigades into service for rescue work.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath took immediate cognizance of the explosion and directed the district magistrate of Badaun to take all necessary steps to provide relief to the injured.He expressed grief over the loss of lives, and has issued instructions to officials for proper medical treatment of the injured.The chief minister has also ordered the district magistrates and superintendents of police to inspect the firecracker factories, transportation of firecrackers and their sale.Also Read: Supreme Court Allows ‘Safe’ Firecrackers for Diwali; Restrictions in DelhiThe sale of firecrackers should be done at an open place far from the crowded place, and steps must be taken so that manufacturing, sale and storage of firecrackers do not take place in localities, he said.Later, Adityanath announced compensation for the deceased and injured persons.“UP chief minister has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured in the unfortunate incident in Budaun,” a senior UP government official said.Millions of fireworks will be set off during the Diwali festival next month and shops are stocking up on supplies.India’s Supreme Court earlier this week allowed only “environmentally safe” fireworks to be sold to limit the high pollution across the country.(Reuters/PTI)