Arvind Sharma, SHO, Mandawar, Police Station, said Dharampal died on the spot in the blast last evening while he was making the "small explosive balls" at his house.
The villagers said Dharampal owned a small farm filed across the Ganga and in order to scare the wild animals away, he, like other farmers, used these "small balls", which would explode with a loud bang.
The body has been sent for post-mortem and investigation is on, Sharma said.