Punjab: Youth injured in potash explosion

Punjab: A young cyclist sustained burn injuries after potash in his pocket exploded while he was returning home. Passersby rushed him to the civil hospital for treatment. Though the use of potash explosives is banned, many people, including minors, were seen using it to light firecrackers with steel pipes in the area on Thursday. The injured youth, Abhishek, 17, of Ram Nagar behind Tara Estate, said he had borrowed potash from a friend to celebrate Diwali. He said the potash exploded after rubbing against his bicycle, causing severe burns to his thigh and hand and also damaging his bike.
The local administration had issued 25 licences for the sale of firecrackers and earmarked PUDA colony lawns for vendors. However, many stalls were reported to be empty on Thursday night and all the crackers were sold out. Some wholesalers had limited stock which they sold on Friday. The municipal corporation earned Rs 21,000 from provisional licences and rent of space for pitching tents for three days. Despite official sales, reports have revealed that crackers are still being sold at unauthorised locations. Popular items included China-made crackers and loud ‘sutli’ bombs. The municipal corporation had conducted raids at four locations a few days before Diwali, from where crackers were recovered; however, no case has been registered yet.