Meerut/UNI: Four people died and two injured in an explosion in an illegal firecracker factory in Lohia Nagar area of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, a senior officer said.

Taking cognisance of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

He has directed the administration officials to ensure proper treatment of those injured in the incident.

District Magistrate (DM) Deepak Meena said an illegal firecracker factory was being run in a house in Lohia Nagar.

"On Tuesday the building caught fire after an explosion in which the upper portion of the building collapsed," he said.

He said while two workers were killed on the spot, two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

"The condition of one worker is stated to be serious. A JCB driver was also injured when a portion of debris fell on him during the relief and rescue operation. Efforts are being made to identify the deceased," he said.

Police sources said the explosion was so severe that even the glass windows of nearby houses and a school were shattered.

"The factory is owned by one Sanjay Gupta and a person named Gaurav Tyagi and they had taken it on rent. A large number of firecrackers have been recovered from the spot. The police are investigating the case," they said.