Explosion at India firecracker factory kills 11

The powerful explosion in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh state caused the collapse of several nearby houses where most of the dead resided, according to local media reports.

The deceased children were between the ages of four and 13, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported.

Police officer Satnarayan Prajapat confirmed the deaths, adding several others were injured in the explosion.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blast.

Industrial accidents are common in India, often due to poor adherence to safety regulations and weak enforcement.

In March, a fire at a fireworks factory in western India killed 17 people.

The following month, eight people were killed when a firecracker storage facility in southern India caught fire.