A blast at a house storing and making firecrackers in Alampur village in Bihar's Siwan district killed several people Friday evening. Hindustan Times, WION and The Hindu reported the blast. Hindustan Times and WION said five people died. The Hindu's updated headline and lead put the toll at least seven. That count included house owner Mohd. Amaruddin Mian, age 62. Siwan police chief Bharat Soni said the civil surgeon had confirmed five bodies, Hindustan Times reported. An earlier Hindu account quoted him saying four deaths were confirmed. Three more people inside were still uncounted amid fresh blasts.

Hindustan Times named the dead as Amiruddin Ahmad, about 70, granddaughter Muskan Siddiqui, 20, Khusboo Siddiqui, 10, grandson Arshad Siddiqui, 8, and Rajkumar, also known as Bhola, 35. Police are checking whether the longtime firecracker seller had valid papers, Hindustan Times reported. The blast hit around 5:30 in the evening under Jamo Bazaar police limits, WION said. Debris fell onto the road and slowed rescue work, WION reported.

Soni ordered the at-once suspension of Jamo Bazaar station chief Dhiraj Kumar and local watchman Chandrika Manjhi for alleged neglect, WION reported. A forensic team and a bomb squad were at the scene after the fire was put out, Hindustan Times said. Eight people were thought to be inside when the store of crackers lit. Three got out with minor burns, WION reported. Bodies were handed to kin after postmortems, Hindustan Times said.

What we know: A firecracker blast in a Siwan house killed multiple people Friday. Hindustan Times and WION put deaths at five. The Hindu put deaths at least seven.
What we don't: A final death toll after debris clearing and medical sign-off.