Punjab: 15 die as firecrackers explode during Nagar Kirtan

According to Taran Tarn SSP Dhruv Dahiya, the incident occurred when the firecrackers kept in a tractor trolley, which was part of the religious procession, caught fire and exploded.

The procession was being carried out to mark the birth anniversary of Baba Deep Singh from village Puhwind, the birth place of Baba Deep Singh, to Tahla Sahib in the district and a huge quantity of fire crackers were stored in the tractor trolley, to celebrate the occasion.

Many bodies were flown into pieces and the exact toll can not be calculated at present, the SSP said.

Taran Tarn Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, while confirming the deaths, revealed that about three injured people were rushed to Amritsar civil hospital for treatment.

Majority of the victims belonged to village Puhwind.

Baba Deep Singh was an associate of Tenth Sikh Master Guru Gobind Singh.

Several politicians, including Congress MLA Harminder Singh Gill and IG Border Range Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, also rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh tweeted, "Saddened to hear about the tragic firecracker blast in Tarn Taran that left 2 dead and 9  injured. My govt will give ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of deceased & free treatment for the injured. SDM Tarn Taran will probe the incident to fix responsibility."