Prank turns deadly: Ghaziabad man dies after pipe firecracker hits friend's leg, causing excessive bleeding

In a tragic incident, a 30-year-old man lost his life after a firecracker, thrown by his friend, exploded near his leg in Jhandapur colony, Ghaziabad. The victim, identified as Afzal Ansari, originally from Deoghar in Jharkhand, suffered a severe leg injury and succumbed to excessive bleeding upon arrival at a nearby hospital. The incident took place on Sunday night during Diwali celebrations.

According to a CCTV clip that surfaced on social media, Afzal was seen interacting with a group of friends who were bursting crackers in a narrow lane. After a brief conversation, he turned to head home when his friend, identified as Pradeep, allegedly attempted to play a prank by throwing a lit firecracker at him from behind. The explosive device detonated, causing Afzal to collapse amidst a cloud of smoke.



Authorities have launched a search for Pradeep, who can be seen smiling in the CCTV footage after throwing the firecracker. Two police teams have been formed to apprehend him. Afzal's friend, Chandan Kumar, revealed that Afzal lived alone in a rented house and worked as a daily wage laborer for a private firm. He had been separated from his wife for several years.

Afzal was rushed to MMG Hospital, but unfortunately, he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he arrived at the emergency ward. An autopsy report is awaited to determine the exact cause of death. Bhaskar Verma, ACP (Sahibabad), speculated that the firecracker may have had a metal casing to amplify its sound, causing the victim severe injury to his veins.

The owner of the house where Afzal resided has filed a complaint against Pradeep at Link Road police station. Pradeep has been booked under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC. The police are actively searching for him and are confident of his imminent arrest.

This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with mishandling firecrackers during festive celebrations. Authorities urge everyone to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines to prevent such accidents in the future.