Kanpur fire-crackers explosion: Ward boy held

A health department employee, who went missing after an explosion at his official quarters on Thursday that claimed four lives, was arrested from Kalyanpur area in kanpur today, police said.

Rajesh Gautam was arrested and 85 fire-crackers and material used in their manufacture were seized from him, DIG Prem Prakash told reporters.

At least four persons were killed when a two-storey residential building on the premises of a government primary health centre collapsed on Thursday following an explosion which police suspect was caused by illegally stored crackers.

Soon after the explosion, Gautam fled from the hospital.

Police said one of the suspects involved in the blast died in the incident, while search was on for four others.

Gautam has been booked under various sections of the IPC. Gangster Act can also be invoked against him for alleged involvement in anti-social activities, Prakash said.