At least three people were killed and one critically injured in a powerful explosion in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district on Tuesday, plunging three families into mourning.
The incident occurred in the Habibi Nagar area under the Bada Bazar police station limits.
According to sources, local residents were clearing bushes and grass on a vacant plot to clean the land when a hidden explosive device suddenly detonated. The blast triggered panic in the surrounding area due to its intensity.
Three people, including a woman and a minor child, died on the spot, while another person sustained serious injuries. The injured was rushed to Hazaribag Medical College Hospital, where doctors said the victim’s condition remains critical.
Police teams reached the site immediately and launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that the explosion may have been caused by old unexploded ordnance or a concealed illegal explosive, such as a crude bomb or ammunition, buried underground.
The Habibi Nagar area has a history of similar incidents. In 2016, five people were killed in the same locality during an explosion that occurred while crude bombs were allegedly being manufactured.
Officials from the Bada Bazar police station said that a forensic team and the Bomb Disposal Squad have been called in to examine the site. Efforts are underway to determine the nature of the explosive material and its source.
Also read: Kidnapped Ranchi siblings rescued after 13 days, 2 held